Mugello MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa smashes top speed record at 217mph!

Dani Pedrosa created history in Mugello this afternoon, the Spaniard’s Repsol Honda RC212V 800cc machine blasting through the speed traps at a record-breaking 217.04mph!

The triple world champion easily beat the previous fastest official recorded speed set by Japanese rider Makoto Tamada on a Honda RCV 990cc four-stroke machine during the China GP in Shanghai in 2006. 

Tamada clocked a best of 213.58mph (343.73kph), yet three riders broke that record in this afternoon’s opening practice session, with Pedrosa setting an incredible speed of 349.3kph on the long 0.709 miles straight.

Finnish rider Mika Kallio clocked a best speed of 216.29mph on his Pramac Ducati GP9 while Valentino Rossi blasted his Fiat Yamaha YZR-M1 through the Mugello speed gun at 213.93mph.

Pedrosa’s best though was just shy of 350kph on an 800cc four-stroke machine that was introduced in 2007 to slow MotoGP bikes down on the straights.

The previous record speed set by an 800cc machine was 215.62mph clocked by 2007 world champion Casey Stoner on the Ducati GP8 during the Chinese GP in Shanghai last season.

The 800s are now faster in the corners than the old generation 990cc bikes and now quicker on the straights at one of the fastest tracks on the premier class calendar.
Brazilian rider Alex Barros, with a best of 213.10mph, set the previous fastest speed recorded on the long Mugello straight in 2004.