The crown prince

Is Nicky Hayden’s most dangerous rival his own team-mate? In part one of our interview, Dani Pedrosa - Rookie of the Year in the 2006 MotoGP season - talks about his chances of winning the title, his relationship with Hayden and his pledge to remain a “clean rider”.

Two wins, eight podium finishes and in the running for the title for almost the entire year: in your opinion, how far off were you from being "just" "Rookie of the Year" in 2006?

My injuries from Malaysia, when there were three races in succession, limited our progression at the end of the season. No one will ever know if the result would have been different, but no doubt the accident didn’t help.

What is your goal for 2007 - to relieve your team-mate Nicky Hayden of his World Championship crown?

I never set long-term objectives, I prefer to think about each race and cover each phase at its appropriate moment. I hope that the experience I gathered last season will be helpful for this year, even with a different bike. My aim is to fight for regular podium finishes, but we will know where we stand when the season starts. I know what level I’m at, but not where my rivals are. Furthermore, with the new tyre regulation everything is even more uncertain.

Inadvertently pushing him off the track at the Portuguese GP in Estoril really put your relationship to the test. How would you have reacted in his position - and how do you plan to handle similar situations in the coming season?

I don’t know, I suppose I would have got angry, of course. It was a regrettable incident and a blow for us all: for me, because I broke my finger, for Nicky and for the team. I had never pushed another rider off in all my career and the first time had to be in Estoril. I hope it doesn’t happen again.

In an earlier interview you said that mutual respect among the riders is very important to you. How did you go about earning respect as a MotoGP rookie? Is it only the results that count, or how you are as a person away from the racetrack?

I think that respect is something you earn with time and it is the consequence of your results and your behaviour. I like being a “clean” rider. Away from the track we all have our own schedule and I don’t meet with other riders very often, but this is normal. I respect everyone and I want them to do the same with me.