Honda: Pedrosa Will Stay

Chief Satoru Horike of Honda Racing Corporation,Grand Prix motorcycle racer Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa
21-year old Dani Pedrosa will still be racing inwas born September 29, 1985 in Sabadell, Spain,
Repsol colours next year.and is the youngest world champion in 125cc and
A last-minute decision was made by Horike to fly250cc Grands Prix. He grew up in a village near
to Assen for the Dutch TT in a bid to convinceSabadell called Castellar del Vallès. Pedrosa
the Spaniard racer, who is out of contract at thestands 5 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs 51kg
end of the year, to make a contract on a new(112.4lbs).
deal.Honda Racing
The factory team's failure to win a race sinceAside from building quality car parts such as
Nicky Hayden succeeded in the USA 12 monthsHonda Del Sol parts, Japan's second largest
ago had led Pedrosa last week to say to theautomaker is also into racing.
public that he was open to offers from rivalHonda entered Formula One as a constructor for
squads for 2008.the first time in the 1964 season at the German
Horike told MCN that he can understand whatGrand Prix with Ronnie Bucknum at the wheel.
Dani wants to say but the chief believes thatThe year 1965 was the addition of Richie Ginther
they we can make a contract soon and that heto the team who scored Honda's first point at the
will stay.Belgian Grand Prix. It was also the year when
Pedrosa is in the third spot in the worldHonda had its first win at the Mexican Grand Prix.
championship. He achieved such triumph afterTheir next win at the Italian Grand Prix with John
finishing on the podium four times so far this yearSurtees as their driver was in 1967.
but is 66 points (the equivalent of two wins and aUnfortunately, in 1968, Jo Schlesser was killed in a
third place) adrift of leader Casey Stoner, his mainHonda RA302 at the French Grand Prix. This
competitor when the pair raced 250s in 2005.racing tragedy plus the company's commercial
The two-time race winner has been rumored withdifficulties of selling automobiles in the United
a move to Suzuki next year but has denied thatStates prompted Honda to withdraw from all
any talks have taken place with the team.international motorsport that year.