Dani Pedrosa

Read about Dani Pedrosa, including career highlights, pictures and news of the road racer right here at Motorcycle USA.

Dani Pedrosa is a racing phenomenon, plain and simple. The Spanish superstar turned everything he touched into a championship trophy in his early years. He was the youngest rider to win back-to-back 125cc and 250cc Grand Prix championships in 2003 and 2004 respectively. In 2005, after sustaining a shoulder injury, he had eight wins and 14 podium finishes en route to another 250cc World Championship title. The year after Dani joined the Repsol Honda team in 2006 to test his mettle in the MotoGP class.

His first year in the premier class was a successful one, with Pedrosa tallying two wins and eight podiums and taking Rookie of the Year honors. The diminutive Spaniard was in the running for the title right up until the final two rounds when he crashed out at Estoril. But, even more shocking, he also took out his title-leading teammate, Nicky Hayden, in the process. Pedrosa made up for the boneheaded maneuver as best he could by shielding Hayden at the Valencia finale.

Heading into 2007 and the 800cc era, Pedrosa was poised for a title run but could not come close to the dominance of his 250 rival, Casey Stoner. However, Pedrosa was able to best Valentino Rossi in the final round of the season to steal second-place in the championship. For 2008 Pedrosa was on the RC212V, albeit running the Number 2 plate. In 2008 Dani was one of the most consistent riders in the paddock, with two wins and 11 podium finishes throughout the season.

Pedrosa suffered a pre-season crash in 2009 but the determined Spaniard faced the fierce competition head-on, finishing third overall. Repsol Honda and Pedrosa rejoined forces again in 2010 for one of their best performances yet. Toward the end of the season, however, Pedrosa suffered disappointment when a crash left him with a badly broken collarbone. Despite this, the Spaniard finished second overall behind Jorge Lorenzo, and his season included four wins, five podium finishes and four pole victories.

For 2011 Pedrosa will be campaigning aboard Repsol Honda for the sixth straight season in MotoGP. He will be joined by new teammate, Casey Stoner.