Pedrosa returns to happy hunting ground

Honda rider Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC213V) takes his World Championship lead to Germany this week, to a racetrack at which he has won on his last three visits.

Pedrosa and the Sachsenring have got along well together ever since he graduated to the 250 class after winning the 125 World Championship in 2003. Since then the 27-year-old has won six Grands Prix at the track; on his Honda RS250 in 2004 and 2005, on his RC212V in 2007, 2010 and 2011 and last year aboard his RC213V. The sinuous circuit that climbs and falls in countryside near the ancient city of Chemnitz demands inch-perfect accuracy and therefore suits Pedrosa’s sublimely neat riding technique. His 2012 win at the track kicked off a stunning run of results that had him win seven of the season’s last 11 races.

Although Pedrosa leads the points chase, nine points ahead of reigning champ Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) and 23 ahead of Marquez, he has had a difficult last three races, never quite getting his machine to extract the maximum from the Bridgestone control tyres. The Spaniard was second behind Lorenzo at Mugello and Catalunya, but only fourth at Assen, where he struggled to find grip as the race wore on.

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda:

“This week we head to Germany and I hope we can get a good feeling and have a good weekend. Sachsenring has typically been a good track for me in the past and it’s a circuit where I always enjoy racing. It’s a short track where you spend a lot of time on the left, but the fastest corner is to the right, so tyre performance will be key. It’s important to keep the momentum and ride my best to keep fighting for race wins.”