Dani Pedrosa on Marc Marquez: The unexpected lesson from their Honda days

Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images

Despite being the more experienced rider at Honda, Dani Pedrosa has revealed that he learned an ‘unthinkable’ lesson from Marc Marquez in how to keep going 100% after crashing multiple times.

Many consider Pedrosa one of the best riders to never win a MotoGP title. He finished runner-up in 2007, 2010, and 2012 before facing a new challenge in 2013 when his rookie teammate Marquez joined the team.

Marquez had just come off winning the Moto2 championship and wasted no time making his mark in MotoGP. He captured the title in his debut season, beating out established stars like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and even his Honda teammate.

Having found instant success at Repsol Honda Team alongside Andrea Dovizioso back in 2009, Pedrosa finished third that year and made it clear that he was ready for a title challenge.

The following year saw him take on Rossi once again but fail to break through yet again. Even though many considered him one of the most talented riders on the grid then – especially when race day came around – injuries started taking their toll. The momentum built up over several seasons began slipping away as physical setbacks kept piling up one after another.

Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images

Pedrosa says Marquez showed him how to keep pushing after crashes

Marquez built a reputation for his fearless riding style, always pushing the boundaries and braking later than most would dare.

It wasn’t without consequence. The risks led to frequent crashes and a long list of injuries, and Pedrosa believed he had a real chance at the title during Marquez’s 2020 absence. Still, Marquez kept returning, always ready to fight for wins.