Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi have shared many battles in the MotoGP class. The Spanish rider recalls the difference in mentality between the two.
Dani Pedrosa can boast a record that hardly any driver can report in his curriculum: in eighteen years of career in MotoGP, of which thirteen in MotoGP, has always raced for the Honda brand. Born in 1985, Sabadell’s standard bearer stood out from an early age in the Spanish championship, making his debut in the 125 class at sixteen where he immediately racked up podiums and good results.
Initially he was on everyone’s lips not only for his speed, but also for his stature which today does not exceed 158 cm. Race after race, however, he has shown that he also has the makings of a champion, establishing himself as world champion three times in the 125 and 250cc classes. In the 2006 season the leap to the premier class takes place, where he has to deal with the sacred monsters of the category, including Casey StonerJorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi up to his last box mate Marc Marquez.
Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa… difference in mentality
Dani Pedrosa is among the protagonists of the new docu-series broadcast by Dazn “Cuatro Tiempos”, where he talks about some of the highlights of his career, including the rivalry with Valentino Rossi. It was not easy to face the champion from Tavullia psychologically and athletically, with his charisma and tough character. “The strategy Rossi used was not to be the fastest, which was my mentality for example. His was “I’m going out, and if I can stop it, I’ll stop it”. He held you back until you got nervous and pushed you to make mistakes. He did it to Stoner, he often did it to me. It took me some time to change my strategy“.
Among the people who have been influential in his career is his former manager Alberto Puig, currently Repsol Honda team manager. “He is very passionate. She really wants to do well. I grew up alongside her from the age of 13 into adulthood“. When he decided to end his reign in the premier class at the end of 2018, he was at the helm of the team. Contrary to rumors in the past, it wasn’t the misunderstandings with Puig that prompted him to say goodbye.
Rather the injuries and physical pains: “One day I had an accident with another rider, they had to operate on my hand. I was in the hospital, I woke up from the anesthesia, my parents were there and I told them ‘enough’. I didn’t want to be in the hospital every day – concluded Dani Pedrosa -. This is what led me to take that decision seriously“.
