Motivated Dani Pedrosa reveals 2010 targets

Factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa has targeted a consistent challenge for race wins in 2010 as the MotoGP paddock prepares to conclude pre-season preparations in Qatar this week.

Speaking at the official launch of the Repsol Honda squad in Madrid last weekend, triple world champion Pedrosa said he wanted to become a regular threat for race wins when the new season kicks off in Qatar on April 11.

Pedrosa, who finished third in last year’s world championship, said: “I’m feeling really motivated for the coming season and our targets are clear – to improve in every area and consistently fight for race wins.

“I’m starting this season in a really positive mood. In general it has been a very good winter for me and much better than the last one. I have been able to do a lot of physical training and work on my fitness levels.

“Also I was able to rest after the end of the last season and, even though I had a small operation to remove a screw from my wrist, the recovery period after this was very short and I can begin the year in very good shape.

“The training will help me a lot throughout the season to maintain my maximum performance.”

Pedrosa remains in bullish mood despite a tough winter testing campaign on the new factory RC212V contender from HRC.

He could only finish the last test in Sepang down in eighth place but he remains confident that the new V4 will be a major threat in 2010.

He added: “At the last test in Sepang we couldn’t make all the progress we would have like to have done, but we still have two more days of testing ahead of us and we will take the maximum profit from them to prepare for the first race.

“In Qatar we will be working to improve a few more areas with the machine and I’m sure that when we solve these issues we will take a big step forward – and I hope to do it in Qatar. I’m looking forward to this season”.

Italian team-mate Andrea Dovizioso was a last-minute withdrawal from the team launch after he was struck down by illness.