April 8 is a landmark day for Honda Red Bull’s MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa. Ten years ago to the day, the speedy little Spaniard – nicknamed the Spanish Smurf – made his Motorcycling World Championship debut at Japan’s Suzuka race track. To celebrate the occasion, here are Pedrosa’s ten lucky numbers...
1...
Growing up, Dani was Mick Doohan’s number one fan. The Australian rider dominated the World Championship in the ’90s, winning five titles and inspiring Dani and an entire generation of motorbike-mad kids to clamber aboard their own little pocket bikes.
164...
In the ten years Dani has been racing in the Motorcycling World Championship he’s competed in 164 races, finishing on the podium in more than half of them.
35...
But it’s those first-place finishes that matter and this is the number of victories to Dani’s name. That’s one win every five races.
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Points win prizes and those 35 triumphs mean Dani has won three World Championships. One in the 125cc class, two in the 250cc class.
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Coming second is no small feat in such a keenly contested championship and Dani has come away with silver twice in his ten years.
1.58...
Dani’s height in meters. That’s 5ft 2in, which explains that nickname, the Spanish Smurf.
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The age Dani got his first motorcycle – an Italjet 50 with side wheels. It wasn’t long before he before he moved up to his first racing bike, a mini replica of a Kawasaki.
15...
Dani was just 15 when he made his debut in the Motorcycling World Championship. We wonder if his parents allowed him a little celebratory tipple after that first race in Japan.
8...
His first season in the World Championship might have been a steep learning curve for the young rider but Dani still finished the season in a very respectable eighth place.
11...
The number of injuries Dani has suffered down the years. He’s currently recovering from surgery on his left clavicle but is already eyeing up the Portuguese Grand Prix, on May 1, as his chance to bounce back in style.
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