Appropriately, Pedrosa rode a trials bike onto the stage before a machine he is more familiar with – his Honda RC212V race bike – was dramatically lowered from the roof of the arena. Andrea Dovizioso, Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda team-mate was also due to attend the team launch but, having suffered from a fever over the last few days and with the final pre-season test taking place in Qatar this coming week, the Italian wisely elected to stay at home to speed his recovery. Dovizioso sent a special message to his fans from his home in Forli, Italy.

In 2010 the partnership between Repsol and Honda will enter its 16th season and it is an association which has made “Repsol Honda” one of the most recognisable team names in motorcycle racing history. Pedrosa and Dovizioso will be riding the latest evolution of Honda’s 800cc four-stroke RC212V race machine, which features a new chassis and swing-arm and an upgraded electronics package.

Dani Pedrosa: “To be here for the Repsol Honda Team launch and to see the support of all our fans is a great feeling. I’m feeling really motivated for the coming season and our targets are clear – to improve in every area and consistently fight for race wins. I’m starting this season in a really positive mood. In general it has been a very good winter for me and much better than the last one. I have been able to do a lot of physical training and work on my fitness levels. Also I was able to rest after the end of the last season and, even though I had a small operation to remove a screw from my wrist, the recovery period after this was very short and I can begin the year in very good shape. The training will help me a lot throughout the season to maintain my maximum performance.”

He continued: “At the last test in Sepang we couldn’t make all the progress we would have like to have done, but we still have two more days of testing ahead of us and we will take the maximum profit from them to prepare for the first race. In Qatar we will be working to improve a few more areas with the machine and I’m sure that when we solve these issues we will take a big step forward – and I hope to do it in Qatar. I’m looking forward to this season.”

Andrea Dovizioso: “I’m really sorry not to able to attend the Repsol Team Launch but unfortunately high fever and flu are keeping me in bed, and at this moment of the season with the Qatar test taking place next week, our priority is to be fit and ready for the last test of the winter. Our common goal is to be competitive from round one – we all want to see the Repsol Honda machines fighting at the front every Sunday.”

Dovizioso added: “We have all worked hard during the winter: Honda has improved all aspects of the package, and from our side we have been committed in training as well as giving direction to the development team. We know that it won’t be easy but we will give our best to fight with the fastest riders every race weekend. I’m very happy to be in the factory Repsol Honda Team for a second year.”

The Repsol Honda Team begins its assault on the MotoGP World Championship at the opening round of the season on April 11th at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, and will be present at the final pre-season official test at the same circuit on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th of March.

Press release courtesy of Repsol Honda

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Dovizioso was happy with his day’s work on Friday as he brought his time down by a further two-tenths of a second from the previous day, taking in 46 laps in the Malaysian heat as he completed a three-quarter race distance in the afternoon.

“If we consider the two days in total this second test session has represented a big step forward compared to the last time we came here at the beginning of February,” said Dovizioso, whose best lap time was 2’01.439. “I’m satisfied that we could lap consistently and for the race this is very important. We did a race simulation and the pace with race tyres was good.”

He continued: “Today I can’t be totally satisfied with seventh on the timesheets and this was because I wasn’t able to use the soft tyre at its best to improve the lap time. It’s something we’ll have to analyse because getting a good grid position for the race is important. Of course there is still work to do to get closer to Valentino and Casey, but anyway, all-in-all I’m very confident.”

Pedrosa, who completed 57 laps on Friday with a best time of 2’01.478, was just behind his team-mate on the timesheet as the eighth quickest rider and he outlined the aims for Qatar.

“We put in a lot of work today and tried many things on the machine to improve our pace,” said Pedrosa. “We made some progress with the feeling from the engine which is positive, though we didn’t really get the results we were looking for elsewhere, and some of the issues we had yesterday are still there. So, there’s plenty for us still to do before Qatar.”

He added: “The team is working really hard and we’re positive that there’s a lot more to come. Of course I can’t say that eighth is where I want to be on the timesheets at the end of this test, so we’ll definitely look to move things forward in Qatar.”

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The Repsol Honda Team began the first official test of 2010 today as the MotoGP winter break came to an end at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. With an unchanged rider line-up of Spaniard Dani Pedrosa and Italian Andrea Dovizioso, the factory Honda squad once again rolled up the garage shutters and got back out on track in preparation for the coming season.

Although HRC’s engineers and test riders have continued development of the RC212V during the winter testing ban, today was the first time that Pedrosa and Dovizioso had turned a wheel on the 800cc V4 Honda since November 11 last year. So both riders spent the time reacclimatising to riding MotoGP machinery after a two-month layoff, and performed shakedown tests of the latest enhancements and machine updates completed by HRC over the winter period.

Dovizioso completed 51 laps today and declared himself satisfied with the performance of his RC212V and encouraged by the potential shown by his machine. On a day when outright lap times were not the priority, the 23-year-old finished in sixth place with a best time of 2’02.630. Pedrosa, who won the final race of the 2009 season, began the test steadily, completing 51 laps on board the 2010 RC212V. Once more displaying his favoured number 26 on the front of his bike, 24-year-old Pedrosa felt no ill effects following a minor operation he underwent in December to remove a screw from his left wrist, and finished the day with a lap time of 2’02.866, which was good enough for eighth on the timesheets.

Dani Pedrosa:

“This was a normal first day of testing for us. It’s been a long time since we last rode the bike and so it took some time to get used to the speed once again and work back into the rhythm – this is natural. We weren’t looking for lap times or high performance and we spent a lot of the day working on the Öhlins suspension because this is a major change for us this season compared to last. The feeling from my left wrist where I had a screw removed in December was good, so this is positive. Generally, I took it carefully today and we have plenty of places where we can make further improvements – starting tomorrow.”

Andrea Dovizioso:

“This is a very important test and it’s good to be back on the bike after such a long winter break. This was a positive first day and I’m happy with the updated machine that Honda has brought here. We have a lot of work to do before we’re ready and many things that need to be tested, so today’s lap times are not indicative of our potential. The work that Honda has done on the electronics has made a big improvement, and also the feeling from the chassis is better. We’re concentrating on improving a pace that we can maintain throughout the race, and that’s what we’ll continue with tomorrow. There’s plenty still to test but this first session has been important to confirm we’re heading in the right direction.”

The Repsol Honda riders will return to the track tomorrow to wrap up this two-day test, before returning to Sepang at the end of February for further pre-season testing.

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Dani Pedrosa begins his preparations for his fifth season in MotoGP on Thursday with the first of two days of testing at the Sepang International Circuit. In December he underwent surgery to remove a screw in his left wrist to improve mobility and reduce pain, and just hours before he takes to the track in Malaysia to work on the RC212V he will ride this season Pedrosa gave motogp.com his thoughts on the test and the challenges ahead in 2010.

How are you feeling physically, and can you say you’re starting the pre-season in good shape?
Yes. Throughout last season I had problems with my wrist but didn’t say anything. I held out to the end of the season, giving my maximum, but after it finished despite the fact I wasn’t riding a bike and wasn’t putting any pressure on my wrist it was still painful. So I decided it was best to get the screw taken out. The recovery period was two to three weeks and the results until now have been very positive. I have been training, and have done a little motocross. The wrist has responded well despite how recently it was operated on. These few days will be a test on my wrist as well, but from the moment I had the screw removed it has felt better. I feel recovered and ready for this first test.

In the last few years you have suffered injuries in pre-season (Sepang 2008, Qatar 2009) that have affected your condition ahead of the start of the season. This season it is important to use all the test days…
Yes, the priority is to take advantage of all of the days of testing available, because this time around more than ever there are not many days. Therefore these are very important tests and it is vital we avoid making any mistakes and are in good shape for the first race.

What is the plan for this first test?
To continue where we left off in Valencia. We’ll carry on testing the Öhlins suspension which is a big change after so many years with the Showa. We will see how they react with small modifications to the chassis. There is also myself: I’ve not ridden for three months so I need to get back on the bike and find a rhythm, speed and also a physical level.

The electronics will be an important aspect over these two days?
Yes, these are one of the most important aspects of the 800cc bikes and we have to try and configure it in the best possible way. Last year it was one of our weaknesses, especially when braking, and here at this track there is lots of braking so we’ll try to find the best setting for this.

What do you expect to have at the first race in Qatar on April 11 that you don’t have now?
I want the bike to be totally to my liking and to be able to ride it with everything in unison. This gives you great confidence, and is so important.

With the engine limitations that take effect this year (six to be used across the 18 races) reliability will be more important than ever. How do you view this?
I think reliability is a strong point of Honda bikes, which are always competitive and have very few problems. Of course it will be difficult because you also never know what will happen, if you have a crash or something like that. But Honda has a cautious approach and always provides durable engines.

Do you think there will be a change to the ‘four aliens’ this season?
That can change at any time. Evidently last year the level was clear, but the race changed with every Grand Prix. The order was different every weekend. One rider can win one day, another can win on another – the competition is very high. As for the other riders, that will become clear during the season.

What do you think about the fact there are five Spanish riders in the premier class for the first time?
It’s a very high number. If you look back in the past, it’s very hard to find one or two riders. But it’s very positive for us now.

This is your fifth year in the premier class and your contract ends after this campaign. Do you feel there is a special pressure on you in 2010?
I think it is an important year, but it is for everyone. You know at the start of every year it will be close and maybe everyone is a bit nervous, but everyone will be very focused and ready for every race.

What’s the reason for your change back to the number 26?
It’s a mark of gratitude to my fans who have followed me through difficult moments such as the 2008 campaign, and especially 2009. I’ve done it for them, I know they like it, and they know my number and can follow me.

But you hope to change it for the number 1?
Even in the best scenario, I wouldn’t change it! I’m not sure, but first I have to earn it.

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Source: MotoGP