P80
MOTOGP
MID-SEASON PROGRESS REPORT
>>DANI PEDROSA
Nothing ever seems easy for Pedrosa. He finished last year with
a purple patch, and after his second win this year at Le Mans had
won eight of the preceding 12
races. But aside from his hauntingly fast new teammate, now
Jorge Lorenzo started coming on
strong.
Pedrosa scored an own goal at
Assen, slumping to fourth while
injured Lorenzo braved it to fifth,
dropping only two points. And another at Sachsenring, with an unlucky cold-tire crash that put him
out of that race, and injured for
Laguna. Jorge was also out, but
Marquez won.
A plucky return at Laguna saw
his worst qualifying of the year,
but he came through the pain
with a strong ride. Fifth this time,
but well earned.
Pedrosa is under contract for
next year, but his status in the premier Repsol Honda team is under
threat from within. His career was
saved once when Casey Stoner
quit prematurely, giving him a last
chance at Honda.
A major recovery in the second
half of this year is not impossible.
That would secure his 2014 status. If not, then next year could
be his very last last chance.
