German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa savours fairytale win

Jubilant Dani Pedrosa put his injury heartache behind him in emphatic fashion yesterday, the Spanish rider storming to a surprise victory in an enthralling German MotoGP race at the Sachsenring.

Sunday’s clash was only the second race since Pedrosa returned from a seven-week lay-off after his broke his right collarbone in a controversial collision with Marco Simoncelli in Le Mans back in May.

Pedrosa had already caused a surprise when he qualified his Repsol Honda RC212V machine on the front row of the grid in Saturday’s qualifying session.

But fears his physical condition might see him unable to sustain a fast pace for the 30-lap Sachsenring encounter were quickly dispelled.

Pedrosa was able to match Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo’s pace to two-thirds distance and he made his decisive break on lap 22.

The triple world champion never looked like giving Lorenzo and Stoner the chance to retaliate and he said: “This is a great moment for me but it is strange for me to be back and winning the race so quickly. I didn’t expect it all but I knew I would suffer less than in Mugello because there are a lot of lefts here and I have more rest time on my right arm. Already in practice with second place it was quite amazing but in the race I just relaxed. I am really happy with this victory.

“I was suffering a lot at the end even though this track is not very physically demanding. Laguna will be tougher for me because there is a lot of hard braking and a lot of up and down. It is a good track and I’ve won there once so I’ll try and enjoy it again. But I want to thank all my fans and the team and family because they know hard this was for me this time at home. They deserve also this moment and I am really satisfied and I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.”

For all the reaction and news from the German MotoGP round, see Wednesday’s copy of MCN.