Dani Pedrosa has never won a MotoGP title, but that does not mean that the Spanish rider has not achieved success in the premier class. His 31-win streak began at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, in just his fourth start.
Pedrosa joined the Repsol Honda team after winning three consecutive titles, one in the 125cc category in 2003 and two in 250cc, in 2004 and 2005. The Catalan was the new rising star on whom all eyes were focused. The podium he achieved in his first MotoGP race, at the Jerez circuit, already hinted at the bright future that awaited him.
After finishing sixth in Qatar and 14th in Turkey, Pedrosa arrived in China sixth in the world championships, just behind Valentino Rossi, who had won five consecutive titles since 2001. Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa’s teammate who was in his fourth season, he was the overall leader after the first three races.
However, in China it was the Spaniard who had the last word on his experienced rivals. The first blow on the table occurred in qualifying, achieving the first pole of his career. His joy did not last long as, at the lights going out, he was overtaken by Colin Edwards, John Hopkins, Sete Gibernau and Shinya Nakano, relegating him to fifth place.
But Pedrosa did not stay in that position for long, as he started his comeback on lap three and passed his rivals one by one, until he took the lead on lap 10. From there, he led the next 12 solo laps, making sure to have a difference that varied from 0.5 seconds to 1.5.
Nobody could catch up with him and Pedrosa won his first MotoGP race, becoming the youngest rider in history to win in three different categories, 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP, at the age of 20 years and 227 days. He also became the second-youngest driver to win in the premier class, tied with Norick Abe in age, and behind Freddie Spencer, who was 20 years and 196 days old. The American would keep his record until 2013, when the victory of a certain Marc Márquez in Austin took it from him.
Behind rookie Pedrosa, Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards joined him on the podium after a solo race. John Hopkins and Casey Stoner completed the top five, ahead of Makoto Tamada, Marco Melandri, Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau, four drivers who fought a tough battle in which the Japanese prevailed. His compatriot Shinya Nakano completed the top 10.
Fifth with six laps to go, Valentino Rossi suffered a tire problem that forced him to return to his garage and retire on the following lap.
The Italian would finish the season as runner-up, behind Nicky Hayden, who would take the title by just five points. Dani Pedrosa would conclude his first season in MotoGP in fifth place overall, before going on to be a title contender every year for the next ten seasons.
