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Dani sets return date, doubts Hayden |
The Repsol Honda rider made the announcement during a press conference as he left hospital in Barcelona, where a plate had been inserted to help heal his injury, sustained during a fiery fall at Sepang on January 22.
Should Pedrosa return at Jerez, he will still have missed a potential eight days of winter testing - and the 2007 MotoGP World Championship runner-up surprisingly admitted, in answering a question from the press, that he is "a little worried" at leaving team-mate Nicky Hayden to develop the new RC212V since "he has not been very beneficial when he has had that responsibility in the past."
Hayden was fastest of all by the end of the Sepang test - albeit using a Michelin qualifying tyre, a 2007 spec engine and the 2008 chassis. Honda's 2008 pneumatic-valve engine is still proving underpowered.
Pedrosa had been quickest at Sepang prior to his day one accident, which he believes was caused by some kind of mechanical problem.
"The fall was very fast and without any warning," explained Pedrosa. "I fell as soon as I touched the brake. I believe that something failed, and the mechanics are checking through the data to try and find out what happened."
The #26 Honda later erupted in flames after coming to a rest in the gravel trap.
