"I try not to dream"

Spaniard Daniel Pedrosa is something of an anomaly in MotoGP (see also profile, right), and not just because his legs don't reach the ground when he's sitting on his bike. Dani took part in his first championship race aged just 15, won his first Grand Prix at 16 and had three world championship titles under his belt by the time he was 20 (one in the 125cc class and two in the 250cc class). In 2006, the 20-year-old made the jump to MotoGP, where - as the smallest and lightest rider in the field - he took second place in his debut race. His first win three races later in China saw him become the second youngest rider in the history of the sport to take a victory. The MotoGP rookie will be competing in his first home Grand Prix at the highest level on June 18.

Dani, Sunday will see you line up on the grid in Barcelona in front of your home crowd. What do you think is possible?
Essentially, anything. But there are several riders capable of winning and they'll all be fighting hard for the victory. Just like I will be.

Will you be more nervous than usual?
No. A win gives you 25 points, regardless of the circuit you're racing on. As a professional, you have to understand that, otherwise you're going into the race with the wrong approach. I mean, of course I'm happy to be racing in Barcelona, as all my old friends will be there. But otherwise, it's just like any other race.

It's your first season in MotoGP and you're in an excellent fourth place after six races. Despite being by far the smallest and lightest rider in the field - actually, "too light for such a powerful machine", as the critics have often said. How do you do it?
Honestly? I've no idea. And the bike is - despite focusing much more than usual on strength over the winter - still quite a weight for me to handle. But I just try and do my best, and it seems to be working pretty well.

So no secret to your success?
No... but one thing is important: I try not to dream, but to focus consciously on my work. It's the only way I can improve step by step.

And so successfully that you've already taken a win in MotoGP this season. Did you celebrate your victory in any special way?
Of course it was something special, but we generally don't have much time to celebrate. In this case, I was going home in a plane at an altitude of 10,000 metres and my friend Puig (Alberto Puig, Dani's manager and the person responsible for discovering Dani, ed.) took some Stolichnaya and ice. We laughed for a while.

Many are expecting a Valentino Rossi versus Dani Pedrosa battle to emerge in future. What are the biggest differences between the two of you?
I don't think there's an answer to that. Everyone is different. For example, I'm not as open as Valentino, I'm more the shy type. But that doesn't mean that anyone is better or worse than anyone else. The most important thing in life for me is that people respect one another as they are.

What else plays an important role in your life?
On the one hand, my life in London, where I love to go cycling in the parks or hang out with friends. And, of course, my family in Spain. I don't get to visit them anywhere near as often as I'd like.

Don't they come to the races?
My father does, sure, but I only get to see everyone else in Spain.

After the Catalan GP, MotoGP goes to Holland. What are your goals for this season?
To understand my bike better, not to stand still in terms of my development and, of course, to take another victory as soon as possible. After all, that's the reason I'm in this sport.