Dani Pedrosa says he emotionally felt “quite okay” following his final MotoGP race, as he was unable to “do what I wanted” on his way to a distant fifth in a wet Valencia Grand Prix.
Pedrosa was closing in on the podium battle in the first part of Sunday's red-flagged finale, but was unable to mount the same charge at the restart, and was 13.5 seconds off the win in fifth.
Calling time on his 18-year racing career at the conclusion of the Valencia race, Pedrosa admitted he was not as emotional as he thought he would be as the conditions stopped him from “giving his best”.
“When I came in I see the box full of people and lots of friends and family, so it was a nice moment,” said Pedrosa on Sunday.
“But I was a little more emotional before the race, when I cross some people before the race wishing me luck, some fans, they seen the look [on my face], the sadness of not having that moment again.
“But I was quite okay after it, because I couldn't do what I wanted to do in the race.
“Basically the conditions were very, very tough, was so easy to crash and basically I was on top of the water, I almost wasn't touching the ground with the tyres.
“I couldn't really give my best because I knew if I tried to lean the bike, I would crash.
“So I was trying not to crash and I didn't give everything I wanted to give in this last race because I didn't have the tools to do it.
“That's why maybe I was a little more calm at the end because I know I can do much better. But of course my father and my mother were really emotional, because they know since I was born how much I liked [racing] and they worked so hard to get me there.”
Pedrosa says the thought crossed his mind on the final lap that his career was coming to a close, but could not harbour those thoughts foe long or else he “would have crashed at the next corner.”
“Maybe the last lap [I thought about my career ending], but it was just for one second and I knew if I kept thinking this way I would have crashed at the next corner,” the 31-times MotoGP race winner added.
“So, actually, as I said, the thinking was not going so much, was more the feeling, that I knew I could go a lot faster but I just could not do it.
“But, no, just one second, but I knew if stayed thinking I would crash next corner.”
Pedrosa will take on a new role next year as a test rider for KTM, and confirmed his first ride out on the RC16 will be at the opening pre-season test of 2019 at Sepang.
