Red Bull-backed Repsol rider Dani Pedrosa is taking advantage of the summer break to recover physically and mentally prepare for the last eight Grand Prix of the season in the best form.
The Le Mans crash did not reduce Dani's confidence and he came back to the championship more eager than ever. He already has two victories and three podium places - two of them consecutive in the last two races - with still half of the season to go...
Laguna Seca is always the halfway point of the season and the start of the short summer break. What are your plans?
“My plan is to recover, because my muscles are very stiff, so I will try to rest a bit to allow them to relax. When I feel better, I intend to train in order to avoid feeling so weak in the second half of the races.”
This season you had very high expectations, but you had a really difficult first half. Despite that, you nearly did more wheelies than ever, in Jerez, Estoril and Sachsenring. What is your assessment of this first half of the season?
“My opinion of these races is that I competed well, but I was unlucky.”
'My rivals are in full form, so I am eager to recover my form too.'
Since your accident at Le Mans, you had unexpected victories in Portugal and Germany...
“These victories have a very special taste indeed. Especially after the injuries I suffered, as I was never at 100%. These wins gave me a high level of confidence. My rivals are in full form, so I am eager to recover my form too so that I can fight against them on equal terms.”
The end of your bike's life cycle is approaching. How do you think it could have been improved?
“The stability and the entrance of the corners are always complicated matters; especially in the tracks with more bumps. Anyway, the bike is responding very well for now.”
How do you think your main rivals are doing this season?
“They are doing a good job. I have been out of competition, which made it a bit easier for them. The competition is very close. There is a very high level, but we could say none of us areat 100%. Casey Stoner has been the most consistent.”
What do you hope to achieve in the rest of the season?
“My aim is to recover my full form and thus be able to win some races. Right now I am not at 100%, but I hope to recover progressively race after race and let's hope that I will be able to fight back in the end.”
© David Goldman/Gold and Goose/GEPA
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