[theophil]

pour info ....

The Italian discovered yesterday that he will have a new rival next season as 250cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa confirmed at a promotional event in London that he has signed a deal with Honda to ride as part of their official team in the MotoGP class from 2006. The Spanish youngster, who won the quarter-litre title at the first attempt last season and currently leads the series by 37 points, tested the Japanese factory’s V5 machine at Valencia last November and expressed his delight at the deal.

“As soon as Honda made the offer we accepted,” said Pedrosa. “Both Alberto [Puig, Pedrosa’s manager] and I were very clear – we wanted the best bike more than we wanted the money. When I tested Honda’s MotoGP bike at Valencia I could tell that it was a bit big for me and my body isn’t quite ready for a bike like that so I will have to train very hard. I am not scared of anybody in MotoGP, just a little worried about my size.”