MotoGP News: Dani Pedrosa Faced Same Fate In MotoGP As Teammate Casey Stoner- 'Serious Problems'

Saajan Jogia | Jul 22, 2024

August 26, 2012; Brno, CZECH REPUBLIC; MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa (ESP) celebrates after winning the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Automotodrom Brno. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports / Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

MotoGP legend Dani Pedrosa disclosed the real reason for his departure from the sport, revealing that he struggled with the same chronic fatigue issues as his Repsol Honda teammate Casey Stoner. This condition ultimately led him to end his illustrious career in the premier class.

Australian rider Stoner retired from the sport at age 27 in 2012 due to chronic fatigue. Years later, Pedrosa encountered similar issues, exacerbated by the numerous crashes he had endured over the years, which made it feel as though his body could no longer cope.

The fatigue was particularly intense during his final three years with Honda, reaching such severe levels that it would take Pedrosa three years after his MotoGP retirement to return to riding on the track. He retired from the sport in 2018, concluding a distinguished 13-season career in MotoGP.

Pedrosa, renowned for his exceptional performance on the track with 31 race wins, joined Honda in 2006 and led the team’s MotoGP program. Despite achieving 112 podium finishes and securing the championship runner-up spot three times, the Spaniard never managed to clinch a world title.

Back on the bike, he is now a test rider at KTM. Explaining the reason for his MotoGP retirement, Pedrosa told Motosport.es:

“Like Stoner, I also had chronic fatigue in my last years in MotoGP

“The last two or three years of my career I was dealing with it.

“I stretched it out until I realized that I couldn't get out of there and that I needed to stop racing. It took about three years to get back on track.”

The 38-year-old rider disclosed that he frequently missed races due to his injuries and elaborated on the issues caused by his severely damaged collarbone. He said:

“We calculated the total time I was out of action due to injuries and all the races I couldn't participate in because of it, and we concluded that I would have missed about 17 or 18 Grands Prix, a whole season.

“When I retired I had serious problems with my collarbone, it was disintegrated. Part of it was very badly damaged; the bone wouldn't heal on its own.

“It wouldn't solidify and couldn't withstand all the forces I put on it. It was a very long process, and thanks to some stem cell doctors I was able to solve it.”