Pedrosa amazed by third consecutive podium finish

Dani Pedrosa didn’t go so far as to say it, but his third consecutive podium showed that he is still very much the Honda man to beat. The Spaniard snatched third place right from the hands of teammate Andrea Dovizioso at Le Mans, but suggested afterwards that perhaps he could have done so sooner had he been less cautious after changing bikes.

Pedrosa was one of the first riders to come in to change machines after the track showed signs of drying, and put the brakes on himself after seeing rival Valentino Rossi’s race fall apart with a crash.

“It’s amazing to get a podium here. My start wasn’t so good,” said the Le Mans poleman who had thought twice about starting the race on dry tyres. “I came in very early to change bikes, but when I got back out the track was not completely dry. Then I saw Rossi crash in front of me, and that made me take a lot of care –even too much- and I lost many seconds at that midway point.

“Finally I was able to get more pace and at the limit of my chances on the last lap I was able to pass Dovizioso.”

Pedrosa now lies fourth in the World Championship, just nine points behind leader Jorge Lorenzo.