Thank you, Dani

At the traditional Thursday pre-event Press Conference, Dani Pedrosa announced his retirement from MotoGo racing effective at the end of the season. The Repsol Honda rider, who has competed in Grands Prix for the last 18 years will not be seen on the grid in 2019. His announcement brings to the conclusion a glittering career and he becomes the first of the “aliens” to call time on his racing. In a career that saw him score three world championships (125cc in 2003), and 2 x 250c cc titles (2004 and 2005), Dani was always among the points and will be remembered (unfortunately) as the best MotoGp rider never to win the title in the premier class. This has nothing to do with his ability and everything to do with Honda’s choice of team mates throughout his MotoGp career.

Unfortunately for him, Dani worked at Honda when, thanks to Repsol money (most of it attracted to the team through Dani’s personal contacts with the company) he always had a better credentialled rider as the #1 rider in his team. He played wingman to Hayden, Stoner and Marquez since his debut in the top ranks and none of these riders did him any favours (though, in my personal opinion he was a vastly better rider than Hayden). In his first year, 2006, he finished 5th on points and has been on the podium at the end of the season 6 times. Three times he has finished runner-up in the title chase, astonishing stats. He has posted 31 wins in that time, this current year being the only one of his MotoGp career where he hasn’t scored at least one victory.

Overall career statistics are amazing. he has scored 54 Grand Prix victories, been 2nd 52 times and 3rd 47 times. He has been on the podium 153 times, been on pole 59 times and scored fastest lap 64 times. Compared to his peers he has been outstanding. In the last few seasons his inability to be able to get the best out of the control Michelin tyre has hurt his stats and has probably heavily influenced his decision to retire. As is commonly known, it has been Dani’s light weight that has made him unable to “push” the front end of the bike enough and generate the necessary heat (especially in cold conditions and on a wet track)

In a career that has been singularly free of any controversy or negative allegations (save his “whoopsie’ at Estroril in 2006) Dani has endeared himself to everyone in the paddock and millions of fans throughout the world as well. I confidently predict that the atmosphere in the Repsol garage will be far less appealing with his departure.

As a result of that announcement, the future or otherwise of the Petronas Yamaha team is now in considerable doubt with no potential #1 riders available for the satellite team. I can’t see how they will be able to run a one-bike team with Morbidelli as their only rider. Unless I have a gigantic blind spot (it has happened) I don’t think there is anyone else available who can do the job they will want doing.

Dani will undoubtedly move on to an ambassadorship role for Honda and I wish him well and thank him for the hours of entertainment that he has provided me. He is the complete contradiction of the adage, “Nice guys finish last”.