After salvaging a surprise second in the MotoGP World Championship during a difficult 2007 season for Honda and Michelin, Dani Pedrosa will be aiming to mount a full-on title attack in 2008.
Under the guidance of former 500cc grand prix winner Alberto Puig. Pedrosa’s rise to the top has been as swift and clinical as that of Valentino Rossi. He took the 125cc crown in 2003 and back-to-back 250 titles in 2004 and 2005, becoming the youngest ever 250cc champion in the process.
Pedrosa instantly startled the MotoGP paddock by scoring an amazing second place in his first ever race for Repsol Honda at the start of the 2006 season. Dani's his first MotoGP win came just three rounds later, but his inexperience - and lack of confidence in the wet - cost him valuable points. Nevertheless, by the penultimate round in Portugal, Dani was one of five riders still in with a mathematical chance of the taking the world championship... until he infamously collided with team-mate Hayden.
Fiercely criticised in the press and angry at his own mistake, Pedrosa displayed both his immense speed and character at the final round at Valencia by allowing Hayden to pass and then dropping back to protect his team-mate from attacks from behind, thus helping Hayden to clinch the title.
Pedrosa himself finished the year a close fifth in the standings - with two wins, eight podiums and four pole positions to his credit - and wrapped up the Rookie of the Year title by a huge margin from talented riders such as Casey Stoner and Chris Vermeulen.
Dani was thus widely tipped as a title favourite for 2007, but it frustratingly took until the tail end of the season for the new Honda RC212V to be a match for the world championship winning combination of Stoner, Ducati and Bridgestone.
Indeed, Pedrosa was the only Honda rider to win a race in 2007 (twice) - with his victory at the Valencia season finale also allowing him to snatch a surprise second in the championship from Rossi.
Career highlights:
1997 : 3rd Spanish Championship Pocket Bikes
1998 : Spanish Pocket Bike Champion
1999 : 8th MoviStar Activa Joven Honda Cup
2000 : 4th 125cc Spanish Championship Honda
2001 : 8th 125cc World Championship Honda
2002 : 3rd 125cc World Championship Honda - race wins 3
2003 : 125c World Champion Honda - race wins 5
2004 : 250cc World Champion Honda – race wins 7
2005 : 250cc World Champion Honda – race wins 8
2006 : 5th MotoGP World Championship – race wins 2
2007: 2nd MotoGP World Championship – race wins 2
