Dani Pedrosa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dani Pedrosa
Pedrosa at the 2018 Valencian Grand Prix
Nationality	Spanish
Born	(1985-09-29) 29 September 1985 (age 39) Sabadell, Spain
Current team	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (Test rider)
Bike number	26
Website	danipedrosa.com
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2006–2018, 2021, 2023–2024 Manufacturers Honda (2006–2018) KTM (2021, 2023–2024) Championships 0 2023 championship position 21st (32 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 220 31 112 31 44 3015 250cc World Championship Active years 2004–2005 Manufacturers Honda Championships 2 (2004, 2005) 2005 championship position 1st (309 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 32 15 24 9 15 626 125cc World Championship Active years 2001–2003 Manufacturers Honda Championships 1 (2003) 2003 championship position 1st (223 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 46 8 17 9 5 566

Daniel Pedrosa Ramal (born 29 September 1985) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle racer. He grew up in Castellar del Vallès, a village near Sabadell. Dani is a three-time World Champion. He won the 125cc world championship in 2003. He then became the 250cc world champion in 2004, being the youngest ever to win it. He won the 250cc title again in 2005.

Pedrosa retired from regular racing after the 2018 season. He now works as a test and development rider for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. He has returned to race a few times as a wildcard rider. In 2021, he raced in Austria at the 2021 Styrian motorcycle Grand Prix. In 2023, he had two outings, finishing 6th and 7th at Jerez and two 4th places at Misano.

Dani Pedrosa is famous for his time with the Repsol Honda Team in the MotoGP class. He finished second in the championship in 2007, 2010, and 2012. He is one of the most successful modern MotoGP riders. He has 31 MotoGP wins and 112 podium finishes. In 2019, a corner at the Spanish Circuito de Jerez was named "Curva Dani Pedrosa" in his honor. Many people say he is the best MotoGP rider who never won a MotoGP World Championship. Pedrosa also raced sports cars in 2022, driving for FFF Racing Team in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe.

Dani Pedrosa's Racing Journey

Starting Out in Racing

Dani Pedrosa was born in Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain. He started riding bikes very young, at just four years old. His first motorcycle was a small Italjet 50 with side-wheels. When he was six, he got a minibike that looked like a Kawasaki. He used it to race with his friends.

At nine years old, Pedrosa entered the Spanish Minibike Championship. He finished second in his first season, getting his first podium in the second race. The next year, he raced in the same championship. Health problems kept him from doing better, and he finished third.

125cc World Champion

In 2001, Pedrosa joined the 125cc World Championship. He was chosen from the Movistar Activa Cup, a series that helps new Spanish racing talents. With help from Alberto Puig, Pedrosa got two podium finishes in his first year. The next year, he won his first race and finished third in the championship.

In 2003, he won five races and became the 125cc champion with two races left. He scored 223 points. A week after winning the championship, 18-year-old Pedrosa broke both his ankles in a crash. This happened during practice at Phillip Island, ending his season early.

Winning in 250cc

After winning the 125cc Championship, Pedrosa moved to the 250cc class in 2004. He had not tested the new bike much because his ankles were still healing. Even so, Pedrosa won the first race in South Africa. He went on to win the 250cc World Championship title, also earning "rookie of the year" honors. In his first 250cc season, he won 7 races and got 13 podium finishes.

Pedrosa decided to stay in the 250cc class for another season. He won another title in 2005, again with two races to spare. In 2005, he won 8 races and got 14 podium finishes. This was impressive, even though he hurt his shoulder during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.

MotoGP: The Top Class

Pedrosa on his Repsol Honda RC211V at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix

First Years in MotoGP (2006-2009)

Pedrosa moved to the 990cc MotoGP bikes in 2006, riding for Repsol Honda. Some people thought he was too small to handle such a big, heavy bike. But he proved them wrong! He finished second in the first race at Jerez. In his fourth MotoGP race, on 14 May 2006, he won his first race at the Chinese Grand Prix. This made him one of the youngest winners in the top class. He won again at Donington Park. He was a strong contender for the championship.

Later in 2006, he had a big crash during practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix. He hurt his knee badly. In the next races, his performance dropped. At Estoril, he crashed with his teammate Nicky Hayden. This ended his small chance of winning the championship. Hayden still managed to win the title, and Pedrosa finished 5th overall, earning "Rookie of the Year."

In 2007, Pedrosa continued with Honda. He finished second in the season behind Casey Stoner. He signed a new contract for 2008 and 2009. In 2008, he was injured before the season started. He still began well with a podium. He crashed and got hurt again during the German race, missing two races. He finished third in the standings in 2008. In 2009, he crashed and got injured again before the season. He recovered and won two races, finishing third overall.

Championship Challenges (2010-2014)

For 2010, Pedrosa changed his bike number back to 26, which was his original number. He won four races in 2010 and finished second in the championship behind Jorge Lorenzo.

In 2011, Pedrosa won his first race of the season at the Portuguese Grand Prix. He later crashed in France and broke his collarbone, which kept him out of several races. He came back to win two more races in Germany and Japan. He finished 4th in the championship.

Pedrosa stayed with Repsol Honda in 2012. He finished on the podium in six of the first seven races. He won his first race of the season at the German Grand Prix. He then won two more races in Indianapolis and Brno. He qualified on pole at Misano but had to start from the back due to a rule issue. He was then taken out by another rider. He won again in Aragon. Pedrosa finished the 2012 season as runner-up to Lorenzo. He scored 332 points, which was the highest number of points ever gained without winning the title at that time.

Pedrosa at the 2014 Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas

In 2013, Pedrosa had a new teammate, Marc Márquez. He won races in Spain, France, and Malaysia. He missed the German race due to injury. He finished third in the championship, behind Lorenzo and Márquez. In 2014, Pedrosa started well with four podium finishes. He won his first race of the season in the Czech Republic, ending Márquez's 10-race winning streak. He finished fourth in the championship.

Later Years and Retirement (2015-2018)

Pedrosa continued with Repsol Honda in 2015. He missed some races early in the season for surgery on his arm. He returned and got his first podium in Catalonia. He won his first race of the season in Japan, which was his 50th career win. This meant he had won at least one race for 14 seasons in a row. He also won in Malaysia. He finished fourth in the championship.

In 2016, Pedrosa had a tough season with new tires and a difficult bike. But he still managed to win at least one race, keeping his streak alive for 11 seasons in the top class. He won in Misano. A crash in Japan broke his collarbone and ended his season early. He finished sixth in the championship.

Pedrosa raced for Repsol Honda in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, he won two races (Spain and Valencia) and got seven more podiums. He finished fourth in the championship. In 2018, he had a difficult season. For the first time in his MotoGP career, he did not win any races or get any podiums. He finished 11th in the championship, his worst result. Honda did not renew his contract for 2019. Pedrosa announced in July 2018 that he would retire from MotoGP at the end of the year.

Life After Motorcycle Racing

In late 2018, Pedrosa joined the KTM Factory Racing team as a test rider. He helps develop their bikes. He initially said he wouldn't race as a wildcard, but later changed his mind. He made a return to the MotoGP grid as a wildcard at the 2021 Styrian motorcycle Grand Prix, finishing tenth. He also raced as a wildcard in 2023 and 2024.

Racing Sports Cars

In March 2022, Pedrosa started racing sports cars. He competed in three rounds of the 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe with the Rexal FFF Racing Team. He drove a Lamborghini Huracán in the Pro-Am class. He got his first podium finish in the series, finishing second in a race in Portimão. He and his co-driver finished third in the Pro-Am standings.

Pedrosa said he felt he was "far from the level required to compete in GT3 machinery." However, he thought he would "do well in a prototype" car. In 2023, he competed in the 2023 GT2 European Series at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, driving a KTM X-Bow GT2.

Injuries Throughout His Career

Dani Pedrosa has had many injuries during his racing career. These injuries often stopped him from having full seasons and competing for titles. Here are some of his major injuries:

• 2003: Broke both ankles.
• 2005: Fractured his left shoulder.
• 2006: Cut on his right knee and a small toe fracture.
• 2008: Broke a bone in his right hand, injured his left hand and wrist, and sprained his right ankle.
• 2009: Broke his left arm and bruised his left knee. Later, he had an incomplete fracture in his right thigh bone.
• 2010: Broke his left collarbone and sprained his ankle.
• 2011: Broke his right collarbone.
• 2013: Small fracture of his left collarbone.
• 2015: Had arm pump issues in his right hand, needing surgery.
• 2016: Broke his right collarbone (in four pieces), fractured his right fibula (lower leg bone), and broke a bone in his left foot. This was his 14th major surgery.
• 2018: Broke his right wrist, needing surgery.
• 2019: Broke his right collarbone again due to weakness from past breaks.

Career Statistics

Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing: By Season

Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing: By Class

* Season still in progress.

Car Racing Records

Car Racing Summary

See also

In Spanish: Dani Pedrosa para niños