Spain’s Dani Pedrosa said it was a ‘special feeling’ as he became only the second rider other than team-mate and fellow Spaniard Marc Marquez to win a MotoGP race this season, racing to victory at Brno, in the Czech Republic, the 11th round of 18, at the weekend.

The Repsol Honda rider came through to take the lead from Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo and managed to make a break for it at the front, holding on to win in the Czech Republic even though Lorenzo began to reel him in as the race reached a climax.

Pedrosa’s victory put an end to Marquez’s 10-race winning streak and he admitted afterwards the victory had extra meaning.

“It was very important to have the first victory of the year. The best moment was when I arrived in pace ferme and saw the faces of the mechanics. That happiness makes the race so special,” said Pedrosa.

“We are here to try to win races and obviously every weekend you put in the best effort you can. Marquez put in a super effort in these first 10 races and it was really difficult to do a thing better than him. Finally when you can achieve what you really work for the feeling is really special.

“When Marc is winning many races and you are at home your family and friends say ‘okay the next race is for you, you must remember me when you win’,” he added.

“So I had a long queue of celebrations for people and I couldn’t remember all of the things I promised to do!”

Pedrosa agreed that MotoGP needed a new winner this season after Marquez’s incredible run of wins.

“Sure always you need some different winners, some different emotions. Obviously Marc’s fans were very happy every weekend but today some other fans enjoyed the race,” he said.

“Since Marc as been in MotoGP, except today he has finished all the time on the podium. I’m just focused on trying to win the race and focus every day on trying to do the best I can.

“I don’t really watch so much how the points are because the first goal is to do a good practice, then a good qualifying, then a good race. The points are later. I think you have to focus on yourself.”

Assessing the story of the race, Pedrosa said it was important to find a way past Ducati pair Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone to prevent Lorenzo opening too much of a lead at the front.

“Jorge immediately started opening a gap at the beginning and I could see that it was really important to quickly pass the Ducatis,” he said.

“When I got in front of them I could pull back Jorge, which was key. I kept my rhythm and the bike was working well at that stage.

“One in the lead I could set a high pace and open a gap which I managed to the end. I’m really pleased because we worked well this weekend,” Pedrosa added.

“Both Yamahas didn’t really show in practice what they were able to do with the race, so it was a surprise.”

The Honda star, who recently penned a new deal that will keep him with the manufacturer until at least the end of 2016, began to experience some front-end chatter issues at the end of the race, but Pedrosa still had enough in hand to close out the win.

“At the end of the race I was struggling a little bit with the braking. I’d a lot of chatter at the front so I couldn’t really go like I was going before,” he said.

“But I could count the laps and the gap to the end. In the last lap it was quite close because Jorge did an improvement from his previous laps.”

On his approach to Monday’s test, Pedrosa joked: “Start late and finish early! Basically just try a few things. Not big things but a few small things and I’m hoping we can find something important for the future.”

 

Results from Brno, in the Czech Republic:

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 42m 47.800s
   2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 42m 48.210s
   3. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 42m 53.059s
   4. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 42m 58.254s
   5. Andrea Iannone ITA Pramac Racing (Desmosedici) 43m 5.439s
   6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici) 43m 5.634s
   7. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 43m 11.619s
   8. Aleix Espargaro ESP NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 43m 17.421s
   9. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 43m 18.164s
   10. Alvaro Bautista ESP Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V) 43m 25.439s
   11. Scott Redding GBR Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R)* 43m 43.404s
   12. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Rider (Desmosedici) 43m 44.527s
   13. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R) 43m 44.708s
   14. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RCV1000R) 43m 51.935s
   15. Leon Camier GBR Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R) 43m 52.702s
   16. Alex De Angelis RSM NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 44m 8.466s
   17. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Avintia) 44m 12.082s
   18. Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Avintia)* 44m 15.236s
   19. Broc Parkes AUS Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)* 44m 26.667s
   Danilo Petrucci ITA IodaRacing Project (ART) DNF
   Cal Crutchlow GBR Ducati Team (Desmosedici) DNF
   Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* DNF
   Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART) DNF
   Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici) DNF

 

Standings after round 11 of 18:

 

POSITION	RIDER	TEAM	POINTS
1	Marc Marquez	Repsol Honda Team	263
2	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	186
3	Valentino Rossi	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	173
4	Jorge Lorenzo	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	137
5	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati Team	118
6	Aleix Espargaro	NGM Forward Racing	85
7	Pol Espargaro	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	78
8	Andrea Iannone	Pramac Racing	73
9	Stefan Bradl	LCR Honda MotoGP	65
10	Bradley Smith	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	65
11	Alvaro Bautista	GO&FUN Gresini Honda	56
12	Scott Redding	GO&FUN Honda Gresini	45
13	Hiroshi Aoyama	Drive M7 Aspar	37
14	Cal Crutchlow	Ducati Team	36
15	Nicky Hayden	Drive M7 Aspar	29
16	Yonny Hernandez	Emergy T.I. Pramac Racing	27
17	Karel Abraham	Cardion AB Motoracing	25
18	Colin Edwards	NGM Forward Racing	11
19	Michele Pirro	Ducati Team	11
20	Broc Parkes	Paul Bird Motorsport	7
21	Danilo Petrucci	IodaRacing Project	4
22	Mike di Meglio	Avintia Racing	4
23	Michael Laverty	Paul Bird Motorsport	2
24	Hector Barbera	Avintia Racing	2
25	Leon Camier	Drive M7 Aspar	1