Dani Pedrosa sidelined for three months following surgery
Both of last year's Repsol Honda riders finished the year busted up and broken |
KTM MotoGP test rider Dani Pedrosa has undergone a successful surgery on an injured right collarbone, but is expected to undergo a recovery period of at least three months.
Pedrosa retired from racing after 18 years in the MotoGP world championship, during which time he won the 125cc crown in 2003, back-to-back 250cc titles in 2004 and 2005 and 31 premier class races.
Signing a two-year deal to join KTM as test rider late last year, Pedrosa was expected to be riding at the Sepang pre-season test this week, but was forced to put his plans on hold after suffering a fracture to his right shoulder.
According to a press release, Pedrosa's shoulder was reconstructed using “osteosynthesis material and contribution of bio-graft with a dose of 40 million autologous stem cells."
“At the moment, my mind is set on overcoming the current situation to continue working on the development of the KTM," said Pedrosa.
“Much to my regret, I have not been able to participate in the pre-season test in Malaysia but I am following closely the work of the KTM racing factory.
“I hope to be with them soon on the track."
Pedrosa made his first appearance on the RC16 during a two-day private test at Jerez – which renamed Turn 6 in his honor – last December.
The Spaniard had been rumored to remain with Honda as its test rider, but later revealed HRC felt his small size would not allow him to offer its race riders useful feedback.
Honda team boss Alberto Puig also felt Pedrosa was not committed enough in his final years to be a MotoGP world champion, with Pedrosa taking to social media to rebuke this. motorsportweek
Marquez also busted up and broken
Marc Marquez barely hanging on |
Marc Marquez says his injured left shoulder got “worse and worse" during Thursday's Sepang MotoGP pre-season test, and was forced to stop early in order to be fit for Friday's running.
Marquez made had his first outing on his Honda MotoGP bike since having surgery on a dislocated left shoulder on Wednesday, and managed to top the timesheets despite only completing 29 laps.
The world champion was able to put in 37 laps on Thursday, and was nine tenths off the pace of Yamaha's Maverick Vinales in eighth.
Marquez trialled a 'few new important things', but suffered a drop in energy in his shoulder early into his run plan and was forced to finish early in order to be fit enough to ride on the final day in Malaysia.
“Today we work again more or less in the same [way] like yesterday," began Marquez.
“We tried a few new things, the most important ones. We start the day not bad, I feel ok, but then immediately my energy started to go down and we stop because the shoulder was getting worse and worse.
“Yesterday was ok the feeling, but today getting worse and then we stopped to be ready for tomorrow.
“But today I felt more that I need more physical training, especially on the shoulder. But we tried a few things, which was important."
Marquez admitted after Wednesday's running he was unable to ride like he normally would, and explained further where he is having to compromise due to his shoulder.
“Normally I'm a guy in the braking point I brake late, very deep, and I am not riding like this now," he added.
“I need to brake earlier, especially in the left corners. In the change of direction normally I'm quite aggressive, but now I need to be very smooth and try to find the time in another place.
“I start the day with a good energy, but I had to stop because I could see I was not ready. But it's better to be three, four tenths slower than your [optimal] pace and test the things." motorsportweek