Dani Pedrosa PERSONAL DETAILS NAME: DANI PEDROSA TEAM: REPSOL HONDA TEAM NATIONALITY: SPANISH DATE OF BIRTH: 29/09/1985 MARRIED: SINGLE 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. Dani Pedrosa

Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa born on September 29th, 1985 in Sabadell, Spain, is an outstanding Grand Prix motorcycle racer. He holds the distinction of being the youngest ever double world champion in 125cc and 250cc Grand Prix events winning back to back in 2003 and 2004. Daniel Pedrosa fondly known as "Dani" first jumped on his little motorbike Italjet 50 with side-wheels at the age of four. Eleven-year-old Dani made his racing debut in 1996 Spanish Minibike Championship and finished second position in the debut season. Due to lack of funds, his racing career was just about to end as quickly as it began. Thanks both to Movistar, a telecommunications company and former Grand Prix racing hero Alberto Puig, whose search for fresh racing talent in Spain ended in picking up this wonderful racer from hundreds of wannabes. Demonstrating his racing talents in 2000 Spanish Championship, Dani Pedrosa finished fourth overall, which ultimately won him a racing seat in 125cc World Championship in 2001. Making his World Championship debut in 125cc category in 2001, sixteen-year old Dani finished 8th in championship positions scoring 100 points. The following year he drastically improved his performance and finished 3rd scoring 243 points. Still doing better Dani Pedrosa in 2003 clinched the world championship title in 125cc category. A week after the championship, elated Pedrosa crashed during practice season and broke both his ankles. Undeterred by the mishap Pedrosa entered the 250cc class championship in 2004. Without any practice or proper tests, Pedrosa racing brilliantly in the 2004 Championship event won the 250cc World Championship title in a stunning manner. He thus became the youngest champion ever to win the championship titles back to back in 2003 and 2004. In 2005 season Pedrosa again suffered a shoulder injury during practice session. Despite that he won 8 races and finished with 14 podium positions. He then moved to the prestigious 990cc MotoGP event in 2006 riding for Honda. He finished 5th overall in his debut MotoGP season. In his 2007 MotoGP season Pedrosa will ride the Honda RC212V, the 800cc bike which he has already test-drove. Dani Pedrosa-125ccm biography As many other famous Motorcycle racers, Dani Pedrosa enjoyed in bikes from early age. Pedrosa got his first morcycle at age of four, and first pocket bike at age of six, riding it for fun with his friends. Daniel (his real name) started racing on minibikes at age of 11, when he entered Spanish Minibike Championship. Dani Pedrosa finished his first season in Spanish minibikes in second position, scoring his first podium finish in his second race of the season. That was the turn-point in his career, when he decided to take racing for serious, and entered same championship in next year, hawing high hopes. However, health problems stopped Pedrosa to win championship in 1997, and he had to settle with 3rd position in championship. However, motorcycle racing is very expensive sport, and despite his great talent, Dani Pedrosa was on the edge to leave motorcycle racing and move to mountain bikes. At the last moment, he heard about Movistar Activa Cup and decided to give it a try. In a week, Dani learned to ride bikes with gearbox and passed the trials. In his first year, Dani Pedrosa finished in respectable 8th place. Alberto Puig, his current mentor, immediatelly spotted his immense talent and picked him for team. Pedrosa took part of the Spanish Chanmpionship as part of Movistar Junior Team, and finished season in 4th place. Despite finishing behind both of his team-mates in 2000, Pedrosa managed to take 4 pole positions and again he got attention of team-manager, Alberto Puig, who decided that Pedrosa is real man for 125ccm World Championship. Year 2001 was entry point to world class motorcycle racing for 16 year old Spaniard. In his first year in 125ccm World Championship, Pedrosa twice finished on podium, both times in 3rd place (Spain and Japan). In same year, Dani Pedrosa did not scored in 5 races, and he ended debut season in 8th place with 100 points. Year 2002 was time for Dani Pedrosa to show more of his potential. In his second 125ccm world championship season, Pedrosa finished championship in third place, fighting for the title with Vincent and Pogiali. In this season, Pedrosa scored 243 points, 30 points less from championship winner, Arnaud Vincent. 2002. was also the year when Pedrosa scored his first victories (Nederlands, Japan and Spain), and finished on podium 9 times. He also took 6 pole positions in 2002. Year 2003 was third and last season for Dani Pedrosa in 125ccm World Championship. In this season, Pedrosa finally won title with 223 points, and did it in style, with two races remaining in championship. As we have seen only one week later, those two weeks were reserve that he needed, as he had terrific crash during practice in Australia, where he broke both his ankles and ended his season. In this year Pedrosa had 5 victories and 6 podium finishes. Dani Pedrosa-250ccm biography Dani Pedrosa switched to 250ccm world championship in 2004. Despite slow recovery from injuries he sustained in 2003 in Australia and no proper testing time in of-season, Pedrosa scored victory in first race of the season in South Africa. What was aimed to be season of adaptation to new class soon became total domination of Dani Pedrosa: he won championship with total 317 points, scoring 7 victories and 13 podium finishes. He did not finished only one race, in Spain, and twice finished just outside the podium, in fourth. This year was one when everybody became aware of potential of Dani Pedrosa, and despite offers to move to MotoGP class, Pedrosa decided to stay one more season in 250's. Despite being main favourite for the title in 2005, this season proved to be hard for young Spanish rider, as he sustained shoulder injuries in Japan, that bothered him until the end of the season. Anyway, Pedrosa once again scored title with two races remaining, once again in Australia. In 2005, Pedrosa scored 309 points, with 8 victories, 3 second places, 3 fourth places, and one race he did not finished. Dani Pedrosa-MotoGP biography Fantastic racing talent of Dani Pedrosa caused earthquakes in a year of his move to top class of World Championship, MotoGP. Being protege of Alberto Puig and Telefonica from beggining of his racing career, everyone expected Dani Pedrosa to enter MotoGP class with Telefonica Movistar Honda, but Honda had different plans for young Spanish rider - they wanted him to became factory Honda rider. In order to achieve their goal, Repsol Honda signed Pedrosa before the end of 2005 season, directly causing one of largest sponsors, Telefonica, to retrieve from MotoGP championship. Deal was done and in 2006 Dani Pedrosa became Repsol Honda rider, replacing Max Biaggi. Once again, Dani Pedrosa execeeded expectations in his debut season, by scoring second place on his debut aboard factory Honda RC211V. In a strange 2006 season, in which class favourite, Valentino Rossi, had lot of problems and bad luck, we did not have to wait too long for Dani Pedrosa to get on the highest podium step - he did that in 4th race of the season, in China, where he also scored maiden pole position. Dani Pedrosa-125ccm biography As many other famous Motorcycle racers, Dani Pedrosa enjoyed in bikes from early age. Pedrosa got his first morcycle at age of four, and first pocket bike at age of six, riding it for fun with his friends. Daniel (his real name) started racing on minibikes at age of 11, when he entered Spanish Minibike Championship. Dani Pedrosa finished his first season in Spanish minibikes in second position, scoring his first podium finish in his second race of the season. That was the turn-point in his career, when he decided to take racing for serious, and entered same championship in next year, hawing high hopes. However, health problems stopped Pedrosa to win championship in 1997, and he had to settle with 3rd position in championship. However, motorcycle racing is very expensive sport, and despite his great talent, Dani Pedrosa was on the edge to leave motorcycle racing and move to mountain bikes. At the last moment, he heard about Movistar Activa Cup and decided to give it a try. In a week, Dani learned to ride bikes with gearbox and passed the trials. In his first year, Dani Pedrosa finished in respectable 8th place. Alberto Puig, his current mentor, immediatelly spotted his immense talent and picked him for team. Pedrosa took part of the Spanish Chanmpionship as part of Movistar Junior Team, and finished season in 4th place. Despite finishing behind both of his team-mates in 2000, Pedrosa managed to take 4 pole positions and again he got attention of team-manager, Alberto Puig, who decided that Pedrosa is real man for 125ccm World Championship. Year 2001 was entry point to world class motorcycle racing for 16 year old Spaniard. In his first year in 125ccm World Championship, Pedrosa twice finished on podium, both times in 3rd place (Spain and Japan). In same year, Dani Pedrosa did not scored in 5 races, and he ended debut season in 8th place with 100 points. Year 2002 was time for Dani Pedrosa to show more of his potential. In his second 125ccm world championship season, Pedrosa finished championship in third place, fighting for the title with Vincent and Pogiali. In this season, Pedrosa scored 243 points, 30 points less from championship winner, Arnaud Vincent. 2002. was also the year when Pedrosa scored his first victories (Nederlands, Japan and Spain), and finished on podium 9 times. He also took 6 pole positions in 2002. Year 2003 was third and last season for Dani Pedrosa in 125ccm World Championship. In this season, Pedrosa finally won title with 223 points, and did it in style, with two races remaining in championship. As we have seen only one week later, those two weeks were reserve that he needed, as he had terrific crash during practice in Australia, where he broke both his ankles and ended his season. In this year Pedrosa had 5 victories and 6 podium finishes. Dani Pedrosa-250ccm biography Dani Pedrosa switched to 250ccm world championship in 2004. Despite slow recovery from injuries he sustained in 2003 in Australia and no proper testing time in of-season, Pedrosa scored victory in first race of the season in South Africa. What was aimed to be season of adaptation to new class soon became total domination of Dani Pedrosa: he won championship with total 317 points, scoring 7 victories and 13 podium finishes. He did not finished only one race, in Spain, and twice finished just outside the podium, in fourth. This year was one when everybody became aware of potential of Dani Pedrosa, and despite offers to move to MotoGP class, Pedrosa decided to stay one more season in 250's. Despite being main favourite for the title in 2005, this season proved to be hard for young Spanish rider, as he sustained shoulder injuries in Japan, that bothered him until the end of the season. Anyway, Pedrosa once again scored title with two races remaining, once again in Australia. In 2005, Pedrosa scored 309 points, with 8 victories, 3 second places, 3 fourth places, and one race he did not finished. Dani Pedrosa-MotoGP biography Fantastic racing talent of Dani Pedrosa caused earthquakes in a year of his move to top class of World Championship, MotoGP. Being protege of Alberto Puig and Telefonica from beggining of his racing career, everyone expected Dani Pedrosa to enter MotoGP class with Telefonica Movistar Honda, but Honda had different plans for young Spanish rider - they wanted him to became factory Honda rider. In order to achieve their goal, Repsol Honda signed Pedrosa before the end of 2005 season, directly causing one of largest sponsors, Telefonica, to retrieve from MotoGP championship. Deal was done and in 2006 Dani Pedrosa became Repsol Honda rider, replacing Max Biaggi. Once again, Dani Pedrosa execeeded expectations in his debut season, by scoring second place on his debut aboard factory Honda RC211V. In a strange 2006 season, in which class favourite, Valentino Rossi, had lot of problems and bad luck, we did not have to wait too long for Dani Pedrosa to get on the highest podium step - he did that in 4th race of the season, in China, where he also scored maiden pole position.