The 2007 World Championship is drawing to an end with races in Australia and Malaysia on consecutive weekends. For the Repsol Honda Team riders there is an important visit to the circuit on Philip Island this weekend. Both Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden hope to make up for the disappointing weekend in Japan at a circuit where the two have been very competitive in the past.
Dani Pedrosa, after his spectacular fall when he was fighting for the victory in the Japanese GP, has taken advantage of the two week break to recover from his injuries. Pedrosa, who clearly dominated all the dry practice sessions before the Japanese GP, was harmed by the rain that fell on the race Sunday and he now returns to the track where he seriously injured both his ankles in 2003, and that just after being proclaimed World 125cc Champion in Malaysia.
One year later and racing in 250cc, Pedrosa was again World Champion, this time he was crowned at the Australian track. At this moment in time his main objective is to finish the season as runner-up, since the World Champion 2007 is the Australian Casey Stoner. Pedrosa occupies third position in the overall standings just 26 points behind the Italian Valentino Rossi, when there are 75 points left to fight for.His teammate Nicky Hayden has not won a race this year and will go to circuit where he has got the pole two times, and where he has been on the podium twice – third in 2003 and second in 2005.
With Stoner the brand new World Champion, the rider who still boasts the Number 1 on his fairing wants to end the season with a victory and Australia is his first chance to do so before the 2007season finishes.For the Repsol 125cc– Bradley Smith and Esteve Rabat – and 250cc riders –Shuhei Aoyama and Julio Simón – the race on Phillip Island is the perfect occasion to get the season back on track after the disappointment of Japan and to begin to prepare a satisfying end to the 2007 season. All four of them are eager to do well and ready to show all their talents, with their eyes fixed on being at the front in their respective categories.
