For the first three rounds of the 2011 MotoGP season, Dani Pedrosa was the man to beat. Despite early season corrective surgery, Pedrosa earned three podium finishes, including a win in Portugal, and was second in the point standings behind 2010 champion Jorge Lorenzo.
But then came Le Mans, and Pedrosa found himself back in the hospital.
Pedrosa missed the Catalunya GP, and recently announced that he would not be racing at Silverstone. With three consecutive no-point races, Pedrosa’s title hopes are quickly vanishing.
Here’s a note from Dani Pedrosa. (The note was posted on Pedrosa’s blog in Spanish and was translated with the help of Google and my two years of Spanish 101.)
Hi everyone,
After days devoted entirely to recovery, I have decided not to run the Grand Prix of Great Britain. I've done everything I could to be on time for Silverstone, but conditions are not right to return yet. I need to feel safe when I start to ride again. I need to that I can fight for victory. I do not want to just run laps.
My recovery is progressing, but we are taking it day by day. I do not want to set deadlines, but clearly, I want to recover as soon as possible to ride the bike again. I have to be calm and follow the recommendations of my doctors to make sure the recovery process goes well.
I've driven many times with pain and my experience tells me that I am not able to be competitive. I decided not to risk it and to continue my recovery process so that I can return at my best. It is a time when I have to pay attention to reason, and not just my desire.. I want to return soon, but I want to be able to compete when I do. It is not the time yet.
Thanks again for all your encouragement.
Dani
Pedrosa is currently fourth in the standings. After the Silverstone GP, Pedrosa will have two weeks before the Assen event on June 25th.
[You can see more from Pedrosa's blog here.]
