Pedrosa back in the saddle as series heads to Australia

Dani Pedrosa returns to action this weekend determined to hang on to second place in the MotoGP World Championship as the series heads to Phillip Island in Australia.

The Spaniard had been slowly chipping away at his deficit to championship leader and compatriot Jorge Lorenzo until a crash in opening practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi saw him fracture his collarbone in four places.

The Repsol Honda rider missed that race and last weekend’s round in Malaysia, allowing Fiat Yamaha racer Lorenzo to wrap up his first premier class title with third place at Sepang.

Pedrosa’s enforced absence has allowed the likes of Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and team-mate Andrea Dovizioso to close in on his second place, with Rossi his closest rival, 47 points adrift.

And the 25-year-old is hoping to hang on to the runner-up spot and help his team continue to develop the RC212V ahead of winter testing for next season.

“The championship is decided, but for us it’s still not over,” Pedrosa said. “The target now is to retain second place in the standings and continue working on the bike so that we arrive in good shape for the winter tests, when we will start working for next year.

“It was hard to take the decision not to go to Malaysia, but after another week I feel it was the right thing to do because during these days my condition has improved quite a lot.

“So I’m looking forward to getting to Australia and finding out how I feel on the bike. I know it will be tough because Phillip Island is a very demanding track and also the weather conditions can play a big part.

“But I believe it’s time to come back with my team and try to return to the high level of performance we had before the crash in Japan.”

Rossi, who continues to be troubled by the shoulder injury that has hindered him since March, is on a roll after his win in Malaysia, his 46th since joining Yamaha from Honda at the start of the 2004 season.

With the title long gone the seven-time MotoGP champion is keen to add to his tally of victories in the remaining three rounds of the season.

“Sunday was a truly fantastic day,” the Italian said.

“To win again was wonderful, my 46th for Yamaha and I think one of the best victories of my career, I am so happy.

“Now I really want to try to finish the season strongly and I’m excited about getting to Phillip Island, which is one of the most fantastic places in the world to ride a motorcycle.

“I haven’t won there for a few years and I would really like to change that. It’s always special to go there because many of my team are Australian and the fans are great. I can’t wait.”

The weekend weather forecast could make the challenging Melbourne track an even stiffer test, with gale-force winds and heavy rain predicted for the start of practice today.

Leading standings
1. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 313, 2. Pedrosa (Honda) 228, 3. Rossi (Yamaha) 181, 4. Stoner (Ducati) 180, 5. Dovizioso (Honda) 179, 6. Spies (Yamaha) 152, 7. Hayden (Ducati) 139, 8. De Puniet (Honda) 94, 9. Simoncelli (Honda) 92, 10. Melandri (Honda) 86.