MotoGP – Losail Day 1 – Knee problems for Dani Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa did everything he could to participate in the first free practice session in Qatar, the first test of the 2009 world championship, but seeing him in eighteenth and last position makes you think. The knee injury in fact still gives the Team Honda Repsol rider many problems and at this point his participation in the GP is in strong doubt. We remind you that the former world champion of the 125cc and 250cc classes, as well as the 2006 MotoGP Rookie Of The Year, was injured in Losail during testing on a bad high-side. The word is up to him.

“I was able to ride throughout this evening's session and that was the first target for Qatar. I didn't feel good on the bike to be honest, but I expected this after such a long absence. I have to readjust to the speed, to the braking points, the demands of a MotoGP require a certain time. My knee is obviously not one hundred percent and we will have to see how it improves over the next sessions.

I can't bend my knee, as much as I would like to, my riding position is not normal and that means I feel quite awkward on the bike at the moment. It's too early for me to make a judgment on the level of the bike because my pace wasn't fast enough. We knew this would be a challenge and we were prepared for it, so I'll be back tomorrow with the aim of being a little further ahead.”