Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa was the star of show held in front of 7000
fans at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid.
The event
was timed to coincide with the penultimate round of the FIM Indoor
Trial World Championship at the same venue.
Appropriately, Pedrosa rode a trials bike onto the stage before a
machine he is more familiar with - his Honda RC212V race bike - was
dramatically lowered from the roof of the arena.
Andrea Dovizioso,
Pedrosa's Repsol Honda team-mate was also due to attend this
evening's team launch but, having suffered from a fever over the last
few days and with the final pre-season test taking place in Qatar
this coming week, the Italian wisely elected to stay at home to speed
his recovery. Dovizioso sent a special message to his fans from his
home in Forli, Italy.
In 2010 the partnership between Repsol and Honda will enter its 16th
season and it's an association which has made "Repsol Honda" one of
the most recognisable team names in motorcycle racing history.
Pedrosa and Dovizioso will be riding the latest evolution of Honda's
800cc four-stroke RC212V race machine, which features a new chassis
and swing-arm and an upgraded electronics package.
"To be here for the Repsol Honda Team launch and to see the support
of all our fans is a great feeling," Pedrosa told the crowd.
"I'm feeling really motivated for
the coming season and our targets are clear - to improve in every
area and consistently fight for race wins. It's especially good to be
here today because last year I couldn't be at the team presentation
because I was injured - and that was a strange feeling, sitting at
home watching it.
"So I'm starting this season in a really positive
mood. In general it has been a very good winter for me and much
better than the last one. I have been able to do a lot of physical
training and work on my fitness levels. Also I was able to rest after
the end of the last season and, even though I had a small operation
to remove a screw from my wrist, the recovery period after this was
very short and I can begin the year in very good shape.
"The training
will help me a lot throughout the season to maintain my maximum
performance. At the last test in Sepang we couldn't make all the
progress we would have like to have done, but we still have two more
days of testing ahead of us and we will take the maximum profit from
them to prepare for the first race.
"In Qatar we will be working to
improve a few more areas with the machine and I'm sure that when we
solve these issues we will take a big step forward - and I hope to do
it in Qatar. I'm looking forward to this season," Pedrosa concluded.
Andrea Dovizioso apologised to the fans saying, "I'm really sorry not to able to attend the Repsol Team Launch but
unfortunately high fever and flu are keeping me in bed, and at this
moment of the season with the Qatar test taking place next week, our
priority is to be fit and ready for the last test of the winter.
"Our
common goal is to be competitive from round one - we all want to see
the Repsol Honda machines fighting at the front every Sunday. We have
all worked hard during the winter: Honda has improved all aspects of
the package, and from our side we have been committed in training as
well as giving direction to the development team.
"We know that it
won't be easy but we will give our best to fight with the fastest
riders every race weekend. I'd like to thank Honda. I have raced for
all my career on their bikes.
"Together we won the 125 championship,
we came close to taking the 250cc title for three years in a row, and
now I'm very happy to be in the factory Repsol Honda Team for a
second year. I'd also like to thank Repsol for their support.
"The
partnership with Honda is long and solid and I hope that we can share
a lot of success this season. I like continuity and so I appreciate
Repsol's involvement very much. I can also boast one Repsol machine
in my garage: I used to race with Repsol colours in pocket bikes. I
was only a child and I was so happy with my Repsol bike. Now that I
have grown up I'm wearing the same colours riding for the Repsol
Honda team. This is where I want to be and I can't wait to get to the
first race in Qatar."
The Repsol Honda Team begins its assault on the MotoGP World
Championship at the opening round of the season on April 11 at the
Losail circuit in Qatar.
