Dani Pedrosa celebrates 10 years in the World Championship

Article from http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/10+years+of+Pedrosa+i+Wordl+Championship

A decade ago the dream started for a very young Dani Pedrosa. The Spanish rider was for the first time at the start of a World Championship Grand Prix. Pedrosa, a two-wheel lover from when he was a child, Mick Doohan’s unconditional fan –the Australian dominated the World Championship with the Repsol livery when the Spaniard was doing his first laps on a pocket bike- made his debut in the Japanese circuit of Suzuka.
For the last few seasons, Pedrosa, now 25, is one of the most important riders of the MotoGP class. Just after undergoing surgery in his left clavicle, the rider from Castellar del Vallès (Barcelona) is focused on the next Portuguese Grand Prix that will be held in Estoril Circuit on May 1st.
In these ten years, Pedrosa competed in 164 races and finished on the podium in more than a half. He secured victory 35 times (once every five races). During this time, he won three World Championships –one in 125cc and two in 250cc- and he has been runner-up of the premiere class twice. Always among the fastest competitors, Dani Pedrosa has earned during these years the respect of the two-wheel world due to his talent, passion and determination.