Dani Pedrosa fastest while adapting 1000cc riding style

Dani Pedrosa topped the timesheets at the end of the opening day of 1000cc MotoGP testing in Valencia today, the Spaniard working on adapting his riding style to suit the more powerful RC213V machine.

The triple world champion set a best time of 1.32.186 in his 40-lap stint to finish 0.136s ahead of Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner.

Honda dominated the start of the 1000cc era just as it did the end of the 800cc with Pedrosa and Stoner finishing comfortably ahead of the chasing pack.

Ben Spies was third quickest on Yamaha’s new YZR-M1 1000cc bike, but his best time of 1.33.226 was 1.040s behind Pedrosa.

Pedrosa told MCN: “Today was more than a bike test, it was actually rider schooling. I had the feeling I was learning a lot and I have some drawers to open to understand more about the riding style for the 1000.

“It is not big things but maybe there are some small details I need to modify with my riding. I have to keep my mind on that.

“Before with the 800 you had the power at the top, so you were as quick as you could be to full throttle to reach the high rpm where now the power comes much earlier, so you don’t need to reach full throttle so quick otherwise you spin a lot.

“You spin a lot more and it is about learning about the new tyres because they are definitely different. You can feel a bit more moving out of the corner.”