Dani Pedrosa eager to assess new Honda 1000cc bike

Dani Pedrosa is hoping that Honda’s new 1000cc MotoGP contender will be fast straight out of the crate as he prepares for his debut on the 2012 machine in Jerez next week.

The triple world champion, who has not yet finished off the podium in 2011, will test the RC212V 800cc replacement for one-day next week at the Spanish circuit.

Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner will also get chance to evaluate the bike and Pedrosa told MCN: “Honestly, all I hope is that it works from the first run out and there are not too many problems to fix. When you jump on a bike and immediately goes more or less in a good area, this is the best thing.”

“I don’t know if they have to change the tyres for this bike like they did for 800s. Probably we will have the same tyres as we have now for this test but I really don’t know because as soon as you change tyres then the bike becomes completely different. I don’t know what is the plan for the tyres next year.”

Pedrosa said understanding Bridgestone’s future development for the 1000cc class will be crucial as the new generation bikes will have more power and more torque.

Pedrosa, who won the last race in Estoril with a brilliant tactical success against compatriot and reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo, added: “If you change the construction then the bike behaves totally different. I remember in the 990cc year I raced I was on Michelins but the tyre construction was much softer, so you can feel more the tyres pushing. Now on the 800s the tyres are stronger and it changes a lot the character of the bike. So we have to understand the direction for the future.”