Pedrosa differentiates between his "cleaner" rivals and the "complicated" ones

The current KTM test rider was named MotoGP Legend after retiring in 2018 with 31 wins to his credit, becoming the best rider in history without a world champion crown in the premier class. The Catalan, who did win a 125cc title (8 wins) and two in the 250cc class (15 wins), is a regular in the paddock and after a lifetime at Honda, he now works for the Austrian firm, of which he is one of its main ambassadors, despite maintaining, as always, a profile as far removed from the media spotlight as possible.

In an interview for the official publication of Red Bull, the sponsor of KTM and also of the rider himself, Dani Pedrosa makes linguistic balances to differentiate, between his greatest rivals on the track, those who were “cleaner” and those who used other techniques that he calls ” complicated”, though you don’t have to be Einstein to know what he means.

After twelve seasons in the top flight, in which he made his debut in 2006, Dani reflects on some of his best fights on the track.

“One of the best battles was against Casey Stoner ,” he recalls.

“It was always a clean rival and it was about seeing who was the fastest and not the most difficult. For example, when you race against Marc Márquez or Valentino Rossi, sometimes they are much faster, and that is clear, but on other occasions , when you’re going the same speed or faster, they have ways of blocking you and wasting time.”

This type of riding, in which other factors or ‘tricks’ came in beyond speed, forced Pedrosa to have to modify his way of riding.

“As my career progressed I caught up and was more aware, but that way of running was not my natural way. When I was racing Casey or Jorge Lorenzo, it was about seeing who was the fastest, not the most difficult. “.

Pedrosa, a member of the generation of super drivers called the ‘magnificent four’ or ‘aliens’, along with Stoner, Lorenzo and Rossi, who reigned in the late 2000s and early 2010s, also analyzes the current batch of top riders in MotoGP.

“This year we can see drivers like Enea Bastianini, Pecco Bagnaia or Fabio Quartararo, who are all three, despite some ups and downs, more stable at the front. Then you have other drivers who are being constant, like Jack Miller, and then the rest.” , value.

“However, to fully appreciate what’s happening with these new guys, we have to let a little time pass. When the spotlight is too close it’s hard to judge, but it’s clear there’s a new breed of drivers. wait a little longer to see who is able to stay there constantly competing for the top positions. Right now the World Championship is very close and there are some riders who manage to score points even on a bad day”, says the KTM rider as the key to the success.