Dani Pedrosa named MotoGP™ Legend in Valencia

Ahead of his retirement at the end of the season, the Spaniard has been inducted into the MotoGP™ Legends Hall of Fame at Valencia.

Three-time World Champion Dani Pedrosa has been named a MotoGP™ Legend ahead of hanging up his leathers at the end of 2018, with the Spaniard inducted into the MotoGP™ Legends Hall of Fame at the season finale at Valencia. Pedrosa won the 125 Championship in 2003, the 250 title in 2004 and 2005, and is one of the most successful riders of all time in the premier class.

In 2007 Pedrosa was second overall to only Casey Stoner and added more wins and podiums to his tally, and he was in the top three in the Championship in 2008 – despite breaking his right hand in pre-season testing and sitting out the US GP after injuring his left hand at the German GP. In 2009 he managed the same top three despite more struggles with injury, and in 2010 was runner-up once again. 2011 was another battle through the pain barrier, before an incredible assault on the title in 2012 that saw the Spaniard only narrowly miss out on the crown – and win the most races that year.

In 2013 Pedrosa was leading the standings before a collarbone break and was third overall, and in 2014 he suffered with arm problems throughout the season and despite that, took another win. 2015 began with career-saving surgery to fix the problem, and Pedrosa was back on the top step towards the end of the year at Motegi and at Sepang. In 2016 he won at Misano as he destroyed the field, and 2017 saw him make another piece of history as he took to the top step in the 3000th race counting towards the World Championship, in Jerez. He also won the season finale in style, underlining an incredible achievement: he’s the first rider in history to win at least one Grand Prix per season for 16 consecutive years.

After taking the third most podiums of all time behind only Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini, Pedrosa retires at the end of 2018 – and now joins the ranks of MotoGP™ Legends.

Source: MotoGP

 

 

Repsol Honda aims to seal the Triple Crown in Valencia before Dani Pedrosa’s farewell

The Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana will be an emotional event for Dani Pedrosa, his numerous fans around the world, and paddock friends in the MotoGP community. The three-time World Champion announced his retirement from racing at the German GP earlier this year, after 18 seasons in Grand Prix racing as a Honda rider.

One of the most successful riders of all time, (eighth on the All Time Wins list), Dani will be inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame on Thursday in Valencia.

Meanwhile, Marc Marquez paid a visit last Tuesday to the Honda stand at the EICMA Show in Milan, Italy, then headed home to Spain to celebrate his seventh World Title with a great party in his hometown of Cervera.

Next Sunday, the squad will try to seal the Team Championship and thereby clinch the MotoGP Triple Crown, having already achieved the Riders Title in Japan and the Constructors Title in Malaysia.

The Repsol Honda Team have earned four double-podium finishes at the track where Pedrosa (last year’s winner) is the most successful rider: 2013 (Pedrosa 2nd, Marquez 3rd), 2014 (Marquez 1st, Pedrosa 3rd), 2015 (Marquez 2nd, Pedrosa 3rd) and 2017 (Pedrosa 1st, Marquez 3rd to win that year’s World Title).

At the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana

Marc Marquez has 2 wins—1xMoto2 (2012) and 1xMotoGP (2014)—plus 4 podiums and 3 pole positions.

Dani Pedrosa has 7 wins—1×125 (2002), 2×250 (2004, 2005), and 4xMotoGP (2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017), plus an additional 5 podiums and 5 pole positions.

 

Source: HRC news