Highs and lows at the MotoGP wildcard in Jerez: KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa takes third place in the sprint, but retires early in the Grand Prix
Routine MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa demonstrated once again during his wildcard outing last weekend that he still has what it takes to keep up with the absolute best in the world. The KTM edeltester made headlines in the sprint race when he finished in P4 and inherited third place after the race because Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo did not comply with the prescribed air pressure
After a mixed qualifying session in difficult conditions, Pedrosa had to start the race from P16. “It’s never easy to start the race from a grid position like that. But the race was special because there were some damp patches,” said the Spaniard.
“My start was solid and I got through the first two corners well. I was more or less in the P13 range and rode directly behind Fabio. I wanted to overtake him on the first two laps, but then I noticed the crashes. I then decided not to attack too hard,” he explains his tactics in the sprint.
“If you couldn’t hold the line, you quickly hit a damp patch and crashed,” realized Pedrosa, who decided to keep the risk low and rode behind Quartararo’s Yamaha for the entire race.
As Quartararo defended his position well, Pedrosa was unable to find a way past. On the straights, the KTM rider tried to exploit his top speed advantage. Pedrosa was concentrating so hard on the duel that he did not see his pit board.
“I didn’t know what position I was in because I was always trying to overtake Fabio on the straight. I couldn’t see my pit board very well,” said Pedrosa. “I didn’t realize on the last lap that we were in P3 and P4. I actually thought we were in P6 and P7. That’s why I didn’t want to risk too much and finish the race. “
After the race, Pedrosa explained that he would have risked more on the last lap if he had been aware that the podium was at stake. He only realized his position when he returned to the pits. “Everyone was happy, just like me,” said Pedrosa, who subsequently moved up to P3 on Saturday evening.
No happy ending on Sunday: Crash after a few laps
Sunday was not quite as successful for the KTM test rider. Pedrosa fought his way forward again from 16th on the grid and crossed the finish line in P11 after the start lap. However, a crash on lap four ended the race prematurely. “It wasn’t the perfect finish,” Pedrosa remarks
Pedrosa slid over the front wheel into the gravel in turn 8: “If you weren’t on the perfect line, you quickly hit a slippery patch. We already saw that in Moto3 and Moto2. I didn’t attack particularly hard and simply lost the front. The front wheel suddenly slid off,” he explains the crash.
“It’s a real shame. I wanted to finish in the top 10. My start was really good. I made up a few positions on the first lap,” Pedrosa looks back and adds: “I landed quite roughly in the gravel and have pain in my elbow. Nothing is broken. So I’m sure it will be okay again after a few days. “
Here comes Bez barging through @marcmarquez93 for 3rd ️
And in the meantime @26_DaniPedrosa has crashed out at T8! SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/Ppl0rODnn3
– MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) April 28, 2024
Pedrosa does not have to test for KTM at Monday’s test in Jerez. Test rider colleague Pol Espargaro takes over and tests new developments on the RC16
