Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) is one of the oldest riders in the MotoGP™ paddock and has spent 10 full seasons in the premier class, but has only managed a single podium in the first six races of his 11th season. Before the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, the rider from Sabadell spoke with motogp.com about how “When you are a child the passion and the motivation and the happiness come so natural and so easy,” but that this becomes harder as the years go on and keeping your inner child alive is crucial.
He’s not yet satisfied with the achievements of his career, even though in the MotoGP™ class alone he has 28 wins, 101 podiums and 28 pole positions. The fire continues to burn inside and he recently announced he will remain with the Repsol Honda Team for another two years. “My whole career being with Honda it’s been very stable and very successful, so I’m really happy to continue for two more years,” he said hopeful for the future but still focusing on the present.
“I didn’t start well. And we are basically having a hard time with the bike,” he reflected, aware that work needs to be done. Both he and Honda continue to work as hard as they can to adapt every aspect to suit the new tyres and regulations.
"I will keep pushing for winning the title. This is one of the biggest dreams I have"Unfortunately the poor start to the season seems to have removed him from yet another title challenge in the top class. “Of course I would like to be champion already!” he declared. He’s been at the gates of the championship several times during his long career but knows he has nothing left to prove, “I already did much more than what I even expect to do when I was a child.”