Dani Pedrosa
Number: 26
Place of birth: Sabadell, Barcelona
Date of birth: 29/Sep/1985
Weight: 51 kg
Height: 160 cm
Dani Pedrosa made his World Championship debut in 2001 after being selected from the Movistar Activa Cup, a series designed to uncover fresh racing talent in Spain, in 1999.
Under the guidance of Alberto Puig, Pedrosa scored two podium finishes in his first season and won his first race the following year, when he finished third in the championship. A talented and determined rider, he took five victories in 2003 and won the title with two rounds left. One week later the 18 year old broke both ankles in a practice crash at Phillip Island, severely hindering his preparations for his move to 250cc in 2004.
However, he adapted instantaneously to his new bike and clinched the 250cc title in his rookie year. In 2005, Pedrosa reiterated his superiority, eight victories in the season bringing him a second consecutive crown. Moving up to the premier class in 2006, the Honda man came second in his first Grand Prix in Jerez, and followed it up with wins in China and Britain.
Unable to contend with former 250cc rival Casey Stoner in what had been predicted as his year to shine with the new 800cc machines, Pedrosa nonetheless snatched second place overall with a victory in the final race of 2007 in Valencia. 2008 saw the Spaniard win two races, both on home soil, although a crash in Germany left him injured and effectively out of the running for the title, still finishing the season in third position. In 2009 he continued with Repsol Honda, accompanied by Andrea Dovizioso.
His talent is only ever overshadowed by his seeming fragility, as injuries have beset his World Championship efforts every season since 2007, as it also was the case in 2010 and 2011.
Source: motogp.com
