MotoGP | GP Jerez Sprint Race, Pedrosa: “They all drive aggressively”

MotoGP Gp Jerez KTM – Dani Pedrosa finished the Sprint Race of the Spanish Grand Prix, fourth stage of the 2023 MotoGP, in sixth position.

The rider from Sabadell, on the track as a Wild Card for KTM, after a good qualifying, led an excellent race, without taking too many risks. For the Spaniard it is the first time in a Sprint race.

Statements Dani Pedrosa Sprint Race Jerez GP Spain

“For me it was the first Saturday with the new format. Qualifying was a bit hectic because it was dripping first. But luckily we had five minutes on a dry track in Q2. I was a little careful though, I didn't want to touch the wet white lines. Maybe I should have risked a little more. Luckily I managed to get a pretty good lap. However, the second row is a fantastic result which will also help us on Sunday. In the sprint race everyone drives aggressively. The drivers try to recover as many positions as possible as soon as possible. The second start was quite good for me. I opted for the outside lane at the first corner because some drivers collided on the inside. I tried to maintain my pace. The behavior of my bike when you follow four or five riders closely was very different from what I'm used to in testing, where I mostly ride alone. I had to constantly readjust my braking points. In the end I wanted to overtake Miguel, but it wasn't easy. He reacted vigorously. We had one or two scary moments, meaning we lost some time and lost contact with the group in front of us. Zarco came from behind, so I decided not to attack Miguel again until the end. Today I learned that the tires change differently in a race like this compared to practice.”