Mugello MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa back from injury hell

Dani Pedrosa has spoken of his frustration at having his 2011 MotoGP world title hopes destroyed by Marco Simoncelli after he made an impressive return to action in Mugello earlier today.

Riding for the first time since he broke his right collarbone after a controversial collision with fellow factory Honda rider Simoncelli in Le Mans on May 15, Pedrosa was seventh fastest in practice today and only just over a second off the best pace.

Prior to the collarbone injury suffered in France, Pedrosa had made a fantastic start to the season and was leading the rankings after a brilliant tactical win over compatriot Jorge Lorenzo in Estoril.

But disaster struck two weeks later and speaking in Mugello today, Pedrosa told MCN his frustration at getting injured again was made worse by the fact he was denied arguably his best shot at winning the MotoGP crown for the first time.

He told MCN: “We prepared the bike very good last year and we were ready and when the crash came I was leading the championship. But you think about it once and then you move on, otherwise you dwell on it too much.”

Pedrosa said it was mentally tough because he’d only just fought his way back to fitness after a long-running left shoulder problem caused when he fell heavily during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix last October.

He added: “The first days after the crash it was hard to swallow. This all started in October from a crash that was nothing to do with me. I get around some problems really strong and by Estoril in early May, I thought I’d closed that chapter and then I open another one immediately the next weekend. It was hard from another crash that was nothing to do with me. But then you are with family, friends and fans and they open your eyes and how you have to approach the future.”

Pedrosa clocked a best time of 1.50.104 in this morning’s dry session and he was probably happier than most that light drizzle heavily disrupted this afternoon’s second practice.

He ended just 1.117s behind Simoncelli and he said: “Today was a big relief. At the beginning I was looking at how my fitness was and I was riding very carefully. I was improving lap by lap and of course I tired quite quickly. Immediately I knew that braking was the most painful moment. But if I can handle the pain I can at least do the race and I hope to do a good result. I know it is not realistic to think about the podium but if I can finish the race then that would be a good move ahead for me. When I had the most pain was when I was off the bike and in the box. I was really lucky not to have to go out this afternoon and have some hours more to rest and keep some energy for tomorrow. I know tomorrow the lap times will be faster and I have to push myself a little stronger but I will try to get the best result.”

Pedrosa told MCN he rated his recovering right shoulder at less than 70 per cent strength and he said he was targeting a return to full fitness by the American Grand Prix at Laguna Seca later this month.

He added: “I expect by Germany I can already feel a big step from now and by Laguna maybe I can feel good and closer to my normal level.”