Dani Pedrosa’s hopes of wresting back the world title momentum at this weekend’s Dutch MotoGP were increased after Jorge Lorenzo’s unfortunate high-speed crash in practice.
Reigning world champion Lorenzo arrived in Assen with back-to-back wins in Spain and Italy, and the Spaniard had laid down a marker by topping the times in Thursday’s first practice session.
But in the second session, fate – and rain – intervened to leave the Yamaha rider nursing a fractured left collarbone after being flung from his bike at 200km/h.
While Lorenzo faces surgery in Barcelona this weekend, Pedrosa will be intent on extending his slim seven-point lead in the riders’ standings.
Pedrosa, yet to wear the MotoGP crown after three near misses, is out to take the chequered flag after two close runner-up finishes to his arch-Spanish rival in the last two races.
And Assen holds fond memories for the Honda man.
“I have raced here many times. My win here was my first ever and I have very good memories from that day,” Pedrosa said.
“The championship is now closer but there is still a long way to go; we must keep going with the points. It looks like the weather will be a big thing and we’ll just have to adapt to the situation.”
With Lorenzo out of the picture Yamaha’s hopes are represented by multiple former champion Valentino Rossi, who came fifth in Spain and is optimistic of a good showing in Assen after a positive testing session last week.
“I am very happy about the test in Aragon and I’m looking forward to going to Assen,” the nine-time title winner told the sport’s official website.
“The settings that we tested were positive and I now (have) more feeling with the bike, especially when braking. For me it is an important step and I really want to try the new set-up on another track.”
Going into the seventh leg of the MotoGP season, Pedrosa leads the riders’ standings on 123 points from Lorenzo (116), Marc Marquez (93), Cal Crutchlow (71) and Rossi (60).