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As with Valentino I've never been Dani's greatest apologist based on the way he has acquitted himself in the top class and admittedly clouded by my limited perceptions of him as a person. Ultimately though, none of us know the real Dani Pedrosa. Indeed most paddock insiders know nothing of the real Dani Pedrosa who like Stoner is somewhat of an estranged enigma and man that prefers to keep his private life entirely separate to the racetrack. Inevitably though we try to surmise what is unfolding behind the black visor and the steely gaze.
From memory, Dani was leading the race at Indy, not sure what year, probably 2009, and he crashed out and remounted. Someone posted that for that reason it was an incredible gutsy ride and I responded in a way that practically mirrors you sentiments here adding that this was nothing remarkable or atypical - negligible damage to bike and no injury, that's what these guys do.
An eighth year on a full factory Honda without delivering the title however is remarkable. It's not simply attributed to his relationship with Repsol; fate has unquestionably played into Dani's hands - the retirement of Casey, the tragic passing of Marco and I would also venture the untimely death of Daijiro have all contrived to forge that indelible signature and an infinitely renewable self perpetuating HRC contract...but then, of the other riders available - who else would you have placed on that machine?
He has also been the ill fated victim of a series of bizarre accidents and injuries which have without doubt cruelly scuppered his championship preparation or campaign. No point in mulling over the minutiae of these circumstances, most that have followed the sport closely will be amply aware of the events surrounding them.
There is no question that the MSMA, driven by HRC ushered in the 800cc debacle and that the loathsome RC212v was designed around Dani and a myopic 'vision' / future strategy which at the time anticipated similarly diminutive drones to pilot a smaller, stabler, more agile and nimbler Honda. In effect they tried to 'out yam' Yamaha and not for the first time in their history - got it hopelessly wrong. there would be my first contention with your argument. No, Dani has not 'consistently been on "the most powerful and consistently competitive seat" in the series, that is simply fallacious and inaccurate. Based upon his career also spanning the 125 and 250 classes I may well be inclined to agree with you.
You say that Dani's run of wins in the second half of the season was very much attributed to the superiority of the machinery...it also worked the other way. This time last year Honda were fighting back. Watch footage of Dani wrestling the RCV out of Geert Timmer - a bike still completely in disharmony with the new softer carcass tyre. HRC eventually found the solution as they tend to do via a gazillion chassis revisions and a minor change to the cush drive which cost pennies. Not before Laguna though. The Sachsenring race which preceded it was one of Pedrosa's most commanding rides to date.
People talk of Jorge's 'metronomic precision' actually overlooking the fact that in style Dani is very similar. The Honda demands an adaptation almost a compromising of that style. I have always maintained that and I seriously believe although there are huge variables involved, notionally if you placed Dani on the M1 and Jorge on the RCV - Pedro would immediately and initially fare better that Jorge on the Honda despite the fact that I percieve the latter to be stronger mentally and physically.
Dani is renowned as a confidence rider, we know that, but the Pedrosa that I contend has come of age (admittedly after eight seasons on a factory honda), is a Pedrosa that is more inclined to ride strategically around problems and contrary to what you say, stronger mentally and physically. To say that Dani is riding better than he has since his 250 days is moot because performances in different classes are simply not comparable. What I should have said is that Dani reminds now more of that commanding and self assured figure that made the class his own in 2004 and 2005.
During the wonderful battle with Lorenzo at Brno last year, in spite of his advantage up horsepower hill, Dani was losing time in the first sector and noticeably down on the Yamaha overall. Watch the race again if you can. Mid way through he reduced the TC which was sapping to much power and rode the rest of the race sideways like Stoner. I have always resolutely insisted that the Honda, punch and grunt out of corners and seamless shift aside, is a more challenging motorcycle to ride and find and exploit the limit than the M1. Dani adapts very well and like Stoner, has been able to modify his riding around the bike...something we have not necessarily seen Lorenzo do since his move to the Premier Class.
Pedrosa also seems less freaked by fairing bashing these days. In 125 the psychotic Stefano Perugini was a continual thorn in his side while the 250 class in 2005 resembled the carnage of WSS. Forget Bautista, need I remind you that the Jorge of old was a deranged cross between Marquez, Simoncelli and at worse, Kenan ......' <span style="font-size:14px;<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;Sofuoğlu. Pedrosa was completely unfazed by the competition..in 125 much to the irritation of Puig he was renowned for cooly toying with the pack before eventually pulling the pin.
<span style="font-size:14px;<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;Don't agree with this ........ that Marquez (snotty nosed rookie?????) has been given stern instructions to give Pedrosa room, ride shotgun or even accede to team orders. Dani couldn't catch Jorge at Catalunya but he could hold off Marc..which he did brilliantly. Again, what was once his achilles heel is an aspect of his riding which has 'changed to make him great'. Like I said in the Catalunya race thread...
<span style="font-size:14px;<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;Also don't agree with your view that Pedrosa pulled the gloves off yesterday in qualifying. He knows he's got the speed. Dani likes to build progressively over the weekend besides, I don't believe he had time for a second run at him. He knew his time was good enough to allow the hole-shot today.
The Honda isn't as balanced a motorcycle as the M1, but it has greater strengths if you can find them. I do believe however alongside Jorge, that Dani is the most balanced rider in the field in all aspects of his riding, race craft and strategic management of his season. In addition to that, with the added shift to Honda circuits as the season progresses the scales are tipping in his favour irrespective of the disproportionate relative weighting that you subjectively and selectively assign to those factors perceived to influence this advantage.
