After a three race absence, this weekend Dani Pedrosa will return to race alongside Marc Marquez for the Repsol Honda Team in Le Mans.

Dani received surgery to his right arm to alleviate discomfort from arm pump and as a result missed the races in the Americas, Argentina and Spain, but returns in Le Mans for round five of the 2015 World Championship. Marc, who was also injured in a training accident after the GP of Argentina, managed to fight for a courageous 2nd place in Spain, and now arrives in Le Mans this weekend almost back to 100%.

The Le Mans Bugatti circuit is very stop-and-go, with plenty of slow turns where braking and acceleration performance are crucial. Riders and their engineers concentrate on honing their machines’ stability during braking, as well as improving rear-end traction for the numerous hairpin exits. The 4.18km circuit features the same start-finish straight as the Le Mans 24hr event and a blindingly fast right-hander leading to the famous Dunlop chicane. Following this quick start to the lap, the stop-start character becomes evident, with a slow right-hander leading on to the main straight. It is one of nine right hand turns, and four lefts.

Marc has had mixed results at this circuit, but took his first MotoGP victory here last year, he’s also enjoyed a victory in 2011 (Moto2) and podiums in 2013 (MotoGP) and 2010 (125cc). Dani has finished on the podium 7 times including an emphatic win in atrocious conditions during the MotoGP race in 2013 and three victories in the lower classes (2003 in 125cc, 2004 and 2005 in 250cc).

Marc Marquez

Championship Standing: 4th - 56 points

"Since Jerez we’ve been able to rest and now I’m feeling much stronger for this weekend. I visited Dr. Mir for a check up and my finger is definitely improving and healing well. I haven’t trained much this past week in order to give my finger a chance to restore back to 100%, which was our main goal. I like the Le Mans track, the weather is always changeable but last year it was really good and I took my first win in the MotoGP class, so let’s hope it’s the nice for us again this year!"

Marc Marquez Statistics | More Statistics

Date of Birth 17/02/1993
Birthplace Lleida, (Catalonia) – Spain
Height 168 cm
Weight 59 kg
Hobbies Mountain Biking, Video games
Racing Number 93
First Race 1998 “Enduro per nens”
Grand Prix Debut 2008 125cc Portugal GP (KTM 125 FRR)
GPs raced 232 (46 in 125cc, 32 in Moto2, 154 in MotoGP)
GP pole positions 91 (14 in 125cc, 14 in Moto2, 63 in MotoGP)
Total GP podiums 139 (14 x 125cc, 25 x Moto2, 100 x MotoGP)
Total GP wins 85 (10 x 125cc, 16 x Moto2, 59 x MotoGP)
First GP Win 2010 125cc Italian GP (Derbi RSA 125)
World titles 8 (1 x 125cc - 2010, 1 x Moto2 - 2012, 6 x MotoGP - 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Previous Results in Le Mans 2014 1st (MotoGP), 2013 3rd (MotoGP), 2012 DNF (Moto2), 2011 1st (Moto2), 2010 3rd (125cc), 2009 DNF (Moto2), 2008 DNF (125cc)

Dani Pedrosa

Championship Standing: 14th - 10 points

"I’ve been doing a lot of therapy in the past few weeks since the operation and I am improving step by step. I’m beginning to feel stronger and looking forward to getting back on the bike - after all, this is the best way to check the feeling after all the rehabilitation work. It will be good to get back to my team and catch up with them all after this time and of course to see all the fans in Le Mans, so let’s hope the weather is kind to us again like in 2014!"

Dani Pedrosa Statistics | More Statistics

Date of Birth 29/09/1985
Birthplace Sabadell, (Catalonia) – Spain
Height 160 cm
Weight 51kg
Hobbies Cycling, Motocross, Windsurfing, Cinema
Racing number 26
First race 1997 Pocket bike race
Grand Prix debut 2001. 125cc Japanese GP, Suzuka – (Honda RS125R)
GPs raced 295 (46 in 125cc, 32 in 250cc, 217 in MotoGP)
GP pole positions 49 (9 in 125cc, 9 in 250cc, 31 in MotoGP)
Total GP podiums 153 (17 x 125cc, 24 x 250cc, 112 x MotoGP)
Total GP wins 54 (8 x 125cc, 15 x 250cc, 31 x MotoGP)
First GP win 2002. 125cc Dutch GP, Assen – (Honda RS125R)
World titles 3 (1 x 125cc - 2003, 2 x 250cc - 2004, 2005)
Previous Results in Le Mans 2014 5th (MotoGP), 2013 1st (MotoGP), 2012 4th (MotoGP), 2011 DNF (MotoGP), 2010 5th (MotoGP), 2009 3rd (MotoGP), 2008 4th (MotoGP), 2007 4th (MotoGP), 2006 3rd (MotoGP), 2005 1st (250cc), 2004 1st (250cc), 2003 1st (125cc), 2002 3rd (125cc), 2001 17th (125cc)
MotoGP 2015

Rider standings

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor
Location Information

Built in 1965 around the existing 24-Hour track, the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix race circuit lies 5km south of the city of Le Mans and 200km south-west of Paris. The venue has hosted Grand Prix since the late sixties but a serious accident to Spanish rider Alberto Puig in… read more.

Length 4.185 kilometres / 2.6 miles
Width 13 metres
Left corners 5
Right corners 9
Longest straight 0.674 kilometres / 0.419 miles
Constructed 1966
Modified 2008
Resurfacing Resurfaced before 2017 round

Automobile Club de l'Ouest, Le Mans, France - View in Google Maps

www.lemans.org

Records

Pole Position 1m 30.450s (166.5km/h) Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati, 2022)
Race Lap 1m 31.778s (164.1km/h) Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati, 2022)
Race Time 41m 34.613s (163 km/h) Enea Bastianini (Ducati, 2022)
2023 Race Winner Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati)
2023 Sprint Winner Jorge Martin (Ducat)