MotoGP Mugello: Dani Pedrosa, “The Mugello weekend will be very emotional”

GP Mugello MotoGP Repsol Honda Team – Dani Pedrosa's first thought obviously goes to Nicky Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP world champion who passed away on May 22nd. The Honda rider shared the garage with him for three years, and a bond of deep friendship had been created between the two.

In 2015, arm problems forced him to miss the first races after the inaugural stage in Qatar, and put the Spaniard's continued career into serious question, but it was Nicky who recommended the doctor to go to. It is also thanks to him, therefore, if Dani Pedrosa still races in the premier class and if he can currently boast second position in the world rankings.

Speaking of the next race, the #26 anticipated a little what will be the theme that will be the focus for the weekend, the "new" Michelin 070. From Mugello, in fact, the riders will return to using the tire, after having tested it last time during the tests in Barcelona last week.

These are the words of Dani Pedrosa: “The Mugello weekend will be very emotional: it's difficult to lose a friend, especially one who was close to you during the three seasons as teammates and in the following years. I remember how much Nicky pushed, how hard he tried, he never gave up as he chased his dream of winning the MotoGP title. I also remember when I was suffering with my arm in 2015 and I announced that I would have to stop racing for a while after the first GP. He immediately came to see me to understand what was happening, and it was he who recommended the doctor who I then had the surgery done by. He was a beautiful person and I am so sad and sorry especially for his family. We think of him and feel him close in our hearts when we go on track at Mugello, as we did at the Montmelo tests last week. In Catalunya we ran on the modified layout and worked on the Michelin front tire which we will have to use from now on. We learned and made some changes to the set up during the test day and in the end we could manage and get a better feel. We confirmed that our base is good. We finished the test in a positive way."

Picture of Alex Farinelli