Motegi MotoGP Reation: Dani Pedrosa claims first Bridgestone podium

Dani Pedrosa secured his first podium since his controversial switch to Bridgestone tyres today at the Twin Ring Motegi.

The Spaniard was a leading figure in the early exchanges as he passed Casey Stoner for the lead on the second lap and kept his advantage until lap six when the Aussie responded with an aggressive move.

Almost immediately after that close, Valentino Rossi swept by into second and Pedrosa was then left to fend off a late challenge from compatriot and bitter rival Jorge Lorenzo.

The Repsol Honda rider said: “Third place was not so bad today, though of course I tried to be faster. I have had some difficult races recently and some injuries, so it was a good feeling to be competitive again. I wasn’t so fast at the beginning of the race, I expected to be faster.

“Later on I was able to improve my pace, my times got better lap by lap, so I am happy about that. My pitboard told me that Lorenzo was coming, I got ‘plus zero’, ‘plus zero’, ‘plus zero’. I expected him to get faster because he was chasing me. On the last lap he touched me but I was able to stay on the bike.”