If Repsol Honda is savouring Casey Stoner’s victory in Qatar, they may have some worrying to do about their other star, Dani Pedrosa.
The diminuitive Spaniard not only lost the first in-house battle with his team mate, he also lost the fight with hard charging Jorge Lorenzo.
Pedrosa arrived at the parc ferme absolutely green in the face and in a cold sweat from nerve pain in his left arm that came on in the worst possible moment, the second half of the race.
The fight between Repsol Honda Andrea Dovizioso and Gresini’s Marco Simoncelli was impressive to watch, but left Dovizioso shaking his head and even more sparks flying between the two Italians, who have a long history of no lost love for each other.
If Moto2 was to be propaedeutic for riders (that’s the BS they fed us when they decided to change the class) wanting to make the transition from the lower classes to MotoGP, reigning Mot02 champion Toni Elias just isn’t cutting it so far.
Elias not only has always been dead last in all the tests and practices, he also crashed out spectacularly during yesterday’s race.
Right now Lucio Cecchinello is probably damning Dorna for making him let go of Randy de Puniet.
Honda rider post race quotes after the jump.
Dani Pedrosa: 3rd“I’m disappointed, not for the race I had, but for the physical problems I had again with my left arm.
Already in practice I felt something, but I was not sure if it could be that bad, at the end I couldn’t grab the handlebar and in the last seven-eight laps I couldn’t use the clutch at all.
I was just holding the arm and I was suffering a lot.
The bike was perfect all race, I had the chance to win but I had a very hard time, one of the toughest races of my life.
I don’t know what can I do because should be OK after the rest I had this winter.
I did the tests and everything was in order.
In the winter tests I was a bit weak, but I felt alright, so I don’t know what we have to do.
I feel sorry for my team as well, because the bike was very good, fast, perfect also in the corners.
I’m proud of how I’ve been riding, I’ve been fighting with Casey (Stoner) in this circuit as nobody else did in the past but at the same time I feel sad because I don’t know what the future will bring.
I know we will go to Jerez in two weeks, where the bike will run very well, and I’m very strong and fast, but I don’t know what will happen.
”Andrea Dovizioso- 4th“I’m a bit disappointed because our target was the podium.
but all in all I had a good race.
In the first laps I thought I could fight for the podium and I’m satisfied with my pace, I also did my fastest lap on the last lap.
We ran with a strong pace and the bike was constant but we need to make another step forward to stay with Casey and Dani.
I lost time in the fight with Simoncelli, his passing manoeuvre was at the limit in my opinion.
This was a crucial moment because we lost time, which we needed to fight for the podium.
I want to thank my team for the work done on the bike.
I’m also happy of my physical condition because I finished the race without being too tired although racing here is demanding.
”Marco Simoncelli: 5th“I am delighted! I was a bit too nervous over the first few laps but it was so good to be racing at the front of the field that I almost didn’t finish the race! Joking aside, I am really happy because I thought my pace would be in the 1’56s but we were able to better it.
At one point when I passed (Andrea) Dovizioso I thought I might be able to go after (Jorge) Lorenzo, but I made a little mistake and it broke my rhythm.
Then at the end in the battle with Dovizioso I was slightly slower than him on used tyres and I dropped off.
Anyway, it was great to see the others so close up and I am sure this was my best race – maybe not the result but in terms of my consistency and the distance to the race winner.
Now we need to take another step in the next race and have fun with the guys in the team, who have done a fantastic job.
”Hiroshi Aoyama : 10th“When we had the minute’s silence at the front of the grid before the race for the tragedies in Japan I felt really emotional.
On behalf of my countrymen I want to say thank you to everybody who has shown their support during this sad time.
I had a tough race because of the start.
(Randy) De Puniet crashed in front of me and I lost precious ground on the group.
Then I got my pace together and recovered positions but it was a shame because I wanted to have a good race tonight.
Anyway, I am still happy because I am sure that we will improve in the next race.
My feeling with the team is perfect, we are getting on great and they believe in me, which is important if we are to grow together.
I want to give them positive results and excitement.
”Toni Elias: DNF“Well, this first weekend has been very tough for me and the team.
Since the two-day test prior to the race we have been struggling with the bike set-up and even after.
We have tried different adjustments to find the right feeling on this track, but at the end we could only lap at low 1.
58.
And that was my lap time during the race from the first lap till the crash.
We knew we could not do better than this as we knew our limit but I feel sorry for the crash.
I want to cancel this bad weekend and start again in Jerez.
”