Pedrosa hasn't yet got the hang of the TIRES. He has said his lack of weight makes it difficult for him to generate enough traction. He is adapting to them, Jerez is certainly a benefit; but it's a process. Of the top 4 bikes, he has been the one most negatively effected by the TIRES.
I highlight tires for the sake of the few who don't quite understand how this factor can make or break wins, hence championships. I'm sure many of you heard Rossi complain about the TIRE situation at Argentina (one could only imagine if he were unsatisfied with his tires before 06, god knows he whined to high heaven in 07 until he got his way, much to the detriment of his main rival) though I'm sure the meaning is lost on a few here. Pedrosa was having fantastic form after his arm pump. From Aragon to Valencia he was very competitive. He is still on the same bike as Marquez, and though he is inferior to Marquez as a rider, he beat him a few times last year, the major DIFFERENCE so far this season is not the bike but rather the TIRES.
In the words of Noam Chomsky, "it's the oil [TIRES] stupid!
("It's the oil stupid!" A meme that became popularized as the true reason why the West had invaded the mid-east, not so much to liberate, but rather to aid western oil companies to secure the resource. But of course, Migs might want to see an official press release by Western governments openly admitting it. I mean surely the Google machine will easily uncover such an admission by the then Administrations, right Papabozzo.)
Content Warning: Look ....... (.)(.)
