MotoGP Dani Pedrosa: “As long as there is the desire to make steps forward, you can always improve”

After the end of last season, which saw him triumph in almost all the races from mid-season onwards, Dani Pedrosa could not have hoped for a better start to 2013. In the first tests held last week on the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, the Catalan Honda dominated the timesheets on all three days.

Three days of testing, and you had the best time of all of them. Are you happy with how things went?
Yes, I'm sorry. We managed to test the bike again and did some good analyses, especially regarding the general set-up. These tests are important for the rest of the season. We had time to try everything we wanted, because the weather was favorable and we did a lot of laps. In the end it was a positive test.

How do you feel physically? Did you feel a little fatigued after returning to work?
It's normal to be a little sore, because after a long period away from the bike it always happens. Given the specific nature of the bikes we race, tiredness is inevitable after the winter break even if you trained on other types of bikes during that period. It has nothing to do with whether or not you have more stamina.

Unlike last year the displacement has remained the same and you are back with the RC213C. What changes have there been on the bike compared to Valencia?
The truth is that there have not been very welcome changes, because we had a great feeling in Valencia. We tried to change some things that weren't going so well for us but, in general, we try to take a few steps at a time in the right direction.

Your biggest complaint last year was chattering. This problem has been solved?
In this first test we didn't focus much on things like chattering. We tried to improve braking and corner entry and added extra kilos to the bike. The rules have changed and we have fewer engines to work with this year, and it is important to test the durability of the engines. And that's what we worked on in those three days.

For the second consecutive year, the weight of a MotoGP has been increased. Did you feel the three kilos of difference while driving?
Yes, you can feel them, especially when braking because it requires more effort to hold the bike. We tried to change the position of these three kilos to find the perfect balance. Obviously we have to work harder on that. I won't say where we distributed the weight, because it's secret.

Some of your rivals have decided to do a race simulation in Sepang. Was it too early for you?
Well, we didn't plan on doing long runs. These are the first tests of the year and we are not yet clear which parts we will use. With the experience I have, I didn't think I needed a long run in the first three days of testing.

There are still almost two months before the season starts. What can be improved on the bike?
There are always things that can be improved. Things that you think are impossible to change today are reality in a few years. As long as there is a desire to take steps forward and develop the bike, the ideas don't stop. You can always improve.

Later you will return to Sepang for another three days. What is the work schedule?
We need to improve some things with the engine; basic about electronics, which is important. We also need to continue work on durability tests, to check that everything is in order.

You shared the garage with a new teammate, Marc Marquez, in Sepang. How did it feel on a MotoGP?
I didn't go very far with him, just two or three turns, but his style is really impressive. He hangs on the bike a lot and has also set some great times. Even in November he was very fast here.