MotoGP Misano: Dani Pedrosa third on KTM’s carbon fibre chassis, ‘I knew Marc Marquez was waiting for me’
The MotoGP Legend threatened to repeat his Jerez feat of being fast🅠est in opening practice, using his testing knowledge to lead much of FP1 before beinಌg pushed to a late sixth.
But while morning leader and fellow wild-card Michele Pirro (Ducati) slipped down to 19th in the afternoon, Pedrosa more than held his own against the MotoGP 𓄧regulars, rising to third.
“Very good day,” said Pedrosa. “First and second practice went really well. We had mꩲany laps on track. both bikes running well and our lap times were ജgood.
“I’d say the last part of 2nd practice was a bit more unknown for me. I didn’t know what to expect for ‘qualifying mode’. I just tried to get used to go for many tyres on the rear and trying to get best lap time possible for༒ Q2.
“Tha𒈔t went also very well. I’m happy to be directly in Q2. There are a few corners we can still improve a bit.”
The Spaniard was coy abo💖ut the new carbon fibre chassis, a ma🦹terial not used for a MotoGP frame since Ducati in 2011.
“Yes, we are using a different chassis. We’re still testing and getting the info. I can’t give you details but for suꦡre the feeling is different,”🌼 he said.
The composite marks a leap in chassis design from the usual tub🅠ular steel frame𓃲 on the RC16.
“I think [KTM] are open🉐 to new technologies and new ways. The team is worki🅘ng very well,” Pedrosa added.
And how long has he been developing this chassis? “A very sho🔜rt🀅 [time].”
Second in the world championship Jorge Martin was among the riders to include Pedrosa as a podiu🦹m contender for Saturday’s Sprint race.
“He was great. He wouldn’t come if he wasn’t fast. i🥂t’s amazing - he was first KTM, in front of me also. Really unbelievable. Let’s see tomorrow but for the Sprint,𒀰 for sure he will battle for the podium,” Martin said.
VR46’s Luca Marini thinks Martin, Maverick Vinale💃s and team-mate Marco Bezzecchi currently have the best pace, ꧃but won’t be surprised to see Pedrosa fighting at the front in qualifying and the race.
“I think Martin and Maverick showed the best pace, e🗹specially with medium rear they were amazing. Also Bez is really strong,” said Marini.
“Dani sincerely I'm not surprised because in Jerez he made a fantastic race and I expect that tomorrow he can be one of theꦕ guys that is fighting for the first row, and also in the Sprint it will be difficult to battle for him, because he💃 accelerates in an unbelievable way and they are working really well with KTM.
“Now KTM is one of the best bikes with Ducati and Aprilia. 💞These three manufacturers are working a lot and pushing each other a lot for the development for the next year.”
Pedrosa had also towed for💜mer Repsol Honda team-༺mate Marc Marquez to sixth place in the afternoon.
“He follo𒊎wed m💟e once, saw how I was riding, and I knew he was going to be waiting for my last tyre, to go with me,” Pedrosa said.
“We started together, I tried𒁃 to keep going with 🃏my pace because my goal was to push with the [new] tyres.
“I knew he was behind and he’d use my wheel to do his best t🌸ime. But I was jusꦰt focussed ahead.”
Pedrosa was the only K💜TM rider🐭 in the top eight with Brad Binder in ninth, Pol Espargaro eleventh, Jack Miller 17th and Augusto Fernandez 23rd.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 ye🙈ars and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
