Pedrosa Celebrates Honda’s Home Grand Prix With A Win

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) rode brilliantly in the Japanese Grand Prix at Twin Ring Motegi, Honda’s home course, to win his third race of the year in the most action-packed race of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) was a distant second with Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda RC212V) recovering from an early off-track excursion to finish an important third.

Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V) and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda RC212V) were two of the riders swept up in the excitement. Both were accused of jumping the start by race officials and both made miraculous comebacks after serving ridethrough penalties. They engaged in a fierce battle over the final third of the race with Simoncelli passing his fellow Italian on the penultimate lap to take fourth.

Stoner finished the day leading Lorenzo by 40 points, 300 to 260, with three races, including Stoner’s home grand prix at Phillip Island, remaining. Dovizioso holds 196 points, one more than the ascendant Pedrosa.

The victory was an important one for Pedrosa and Honda, as well as the Japanese people, who were immensely grateful that the entire MotoGP field had supported their home race nearly seven months after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the region northeast of Motegi, and forced the postponement of the race from its original April date. The Japanese fans showed their appreciation with signs, flags, and t-shirts thanking those who attended the race.

It was also Pedrosa’s first MotoGP win at Motegi, to go along with victories in the 250cc and 125cc class.

The race began under cool, overcast skies with Stoner bolting into the lead as race officials determined that Simoncelli and Dovizioso, along with Cal Crutchlow, had jumped the start.

Stoner was in the lead and controlling the pace until he hit a bump over the crest on the back straight on the fifth lap, sending the front end into a violent wobble. The shaking of the front end knocked the brake pads out of place, which isn’t uncommon. When the championship leader went to brake at the end of the fastest straightaway, he had to grab the lever twice and still ran off the track and into the gravel, calling on his vast dirt track experience to stay upright. He rejoined the race in seventh place and began an impressive resurgence.

Dovi was in the lead at the end of the lap from Pedrosa and Lorenzo, and Simoncelli, but by now the riders had been informed that they had to serve their penalties, which they did ending the sixth lap.

Ending the seventh lap, the first flying lap after the penalties, Pedrosa was in front of Lorenzo, who was putting him under pressure, but not for long.

Pedrosa set a new circuit record of 1:46.090 mins. on the 11th lap and, two laps later, Stoner moved into third with a pass of Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) on the brakes into turn 11, the same corner where Stoner had earlier run off. Now Stoner was in a podium position, but ten seconds behind Lorenzo and not entirely confident in his front brakes.

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V): Race winner

“I'm super happy with this victory, for the team that has been working so well, for HRC, because this is the first win in Motegi with the Repsol Honda Team, and for myself, because it is the first time I've won here in MotoGP after doing so in 125cc and 250cc. The race was strange at the beginning. With Stoner and Dovi really fast on the first few laps, they pulled away and then Casey had some problem and Andrea had a ridethrough due to his jump start. I was alone in front with Lorenzo very close, but I tried to put my head down and push every lap to pull away. I'm really happy because at this track I've had a mix of good and bad results and some bad injuries, so come back one year later and win in MotoGP is fantastic.”

Casey Stoner, Repsol Honda: 3rd

“The whole weekend had gone so well for us and even the start of the race we got a great start and everything felt good in the first laps and I was able to pull a small advantage. Andrea was riding very well on the soft tyre compound and we knew ours would work well towards the end of the race, so the pace we had at that stage I was very comfortable with. As I came out of the back straight I got a wobble on the bike, we hit the big bump and as the front came down it practically shook the bars out of my hands; I was lucky to hold on. I went for the brakes and there was nothing there, so I had to pump them up a couple of times, when I pumped it the second time if flicked me up over the front and I was lucky to stay on the bike. Thankfully I avoided hitting the wall at the end of the gravel trap but this pretty much ended our race. It's really disappointing as we had the bike to win here to day, but in the end I guess I should be thankful that we were able to climb back up to a podium spot after other peoples misfortunes and mistakes on track. I'm looking forward to going to Phillip Island now and to see what we can achieve there. I've got a Championship lead to protect, but I also want to win races which is why I'm disappointed here today.”