Dani Pedrosa fancies himself in his first Sprint Race

Dani Pedrosa, Apart from testing the latest version of the KTM RC12 inside a Grand Prix, which is expected to be a quest, he is especially interested in learning about the MotoGP post-era 2018, which he has lived, one where aerodynamics make it difficult to overtake in the race, and more when it comes to narrow circuits, and since 2022 it has changed its format with more weight for Friday and a Saturday divided between the ‘qualy’ and the Sprint. And after going through the horror of a Q2 in mixed conditions and a wild first lap of the Sprint this Saturday, the three-time world champion was happy on the track “because for KTM first, third and sixth was a fantastic result”, and because of the love received by part of the public

“The warmth of the feeling of Jerez again is incredible, I received a lot of love from the first moment. Everyone taking pictures with me and asking for my autographs. Until now, it has been a harsh reception of love”, explained and especially the Great moment at the podium ceremony with Binder, Bagnaia and Miller shouting for “Pedrosa to come out, Pedrosa to come out” from his box as befits a sixth place that rider.

“It has been a quite a special race, because it was the first for a long time and we have had two starts, I was a little nervous, especially in the first, but the second one was a little better”, admitted Pedrosa.

“In the first start I saw that there was enough aggressiveness, I had a pretty strong battle with Quartararo, he passed me very close in the first start, and in the second I lost some positions, but everything was a little more controlled ” he commented.

This is how he commented on his race: “I had a good start and then I lost positions in the first two corners; I regained one and then crashed into Aleix -Espargaró- and at the end, I tried to pass Miguel, but I struggled a little bit. I think he has the points to get past him, but he defends well.”

“He was not very consistent with his braking points and sometimes that caught me by surprise, because on some laps he braked earlier and on others later. I guess it also depended on how close or far we were to the other drivers, but there was a moment that we fought and Zarco was on top of us so I decided to hold the pace behind Miguel and try again on the last lap, but I also didn’t want Zarco to come and whoever came with him. and we became a group from two to being one of four”, acknowledged the KTM test rider and since this year a MotoGP commentator on DAZN.

He verified how in the current MotoGP “the bike behaves a little differently in each lap; that is, if I do a simulation I can get some data, but in the race the bike behaves a little differently, especially those tire and I’m trying to adapt to it, play with that limit, to keep up with the pace of the race”, continued Pedrosa.

“In general, I liked the fact that we were competitive and we were very close to the race pace. The start was quite good and maybe the first lap was not the best for me, especially the first two corners. , because there were many decision to make, like the tires, and they are critical decisions that can determine the result”, added the man from Castellar del Vallès in a press conference.

“Perhaps the most difficult thing is how the bike behaves in the race because the tires and the bike change a lot when you follow other riders and trying to have a good feeling at that moment is quite difficult, because you don’t was able to prepare for that. ,” he concluded.

On whether there will be an option for a new wild card, he signed up for Misano, Pedrosa has not decided anything. “We’re nowhere near those decisions at the moment. Right now, we’re going from training to training. The race is tomorrow, after the test and then a bit of rest and we’ll see.”

and asked if in this Sunday’s race where he will start sixth on the grid again he sees himself on the podium He was cautious: “I don’t know what to say. Let’s see if I can improve my start a little.”