Not so long ago, in MotoGP, we spoke of the fantastic four in reference to a quartet of riders above the rest for whom victory was reserved. It is now clear that we are dealing with a hellish trio. The golden triangle replaced the magic square because one side left: Dani Pedrosa.
A change which was painfully confirmed this Sunday for the 30-year-old driver at the end of his contract at the end of this season. After an absence last year due to medical reasons, Dani Pedrosa returned to his favorite route of Jerez after a trip to Austin that ended badly but brought hope. On favorable ground, he would reach his current level after a start to the campaign spent suffering from the new Michelin tires.
Pedrosa in Jerez, there are eight front rows on the starting grid until 2014 and nine podiums including two victories in 2008 and 2013. Enough to feel at home. But he had the pain of realizing that he had become a stranger there. Test sessions spent ensuring his survival in the top 10, a seventh place at the end of qualifying 942 thousandths behind the poleman Red and a race spent far from the tenors for a fourth place which asserts itself as being the best he can hope for this year.
A complicated situation to live with for a champion of this caliber. For his national Grand Prix, he finished 10 seconds behind the winner after 27 laps and three seconds behind a Marc Márquez who had surrendered, but also under constant threat from the two Suzukis. Despite a dazzling start which propelled him with the leading men, he was deceived before entering the ranks.
Evil is known to the Spaniard. This is an inability to adapt to the tires. A defect from which in fact all Hondas suffer, Marc Márquez being the exception that proves the rule: “ we knew it would be a complicated race after taking the best possible place at the end of qualifying. Because the men in front of us were faster throughout the meeting » concedes Dani. “ I got off to a good start, attacking hard in the first few laps. Then I encountered difficulties with my tires, both front and rear ».
« It was like riding on a wet track. I then concentrated on both preserving my tires and containing Aleix Espargaró who was coming back up. I didn't want to destroy my rear tire. I was able to keep Aleix under control and at the end of the race, I had the means to increase the pace to escape and get closer to Marc who had put a lot of strain on his tires, which cost him on the END. Monday we have tests which should bring progress in the sensations I have with the bike ". Otherwise, we will have to fight against bad luck with all our hearts throughout this season.
