Marc Marquez says his long-time Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa 'taught' him how to ride a MotoGP bike in his debut 2013 season, and admits Pedrosa was one of his “heroes”.
Pedrosa announced on Thursday afternoon in a press conference at the Sachsenring that he would be calling time on his 18-year grand prix career at the end of this season, having confirmed last month that he was leaving Honda.
Marquez has rode alongside Pedrosa for the past six seasons, and says the 31-time MotoGP race winner was one of his “references” in his development as a rider.
“Dani is one of the most important riders in the MotoGP category with all his career, especially because was and is my teammate,” he said.
“I want to say thanks to him, because was one of the heroes for all the kids following our dreams, and he was especially one of my references and we share the box with him, we share many good moments.
“It's difficult to understand, but everyone will arrive on that moment. Thanks, because I learn many things from him, he was one of the best riders. It was a pleasure to be his teammate.
“I can say when I arrive in MotoGP he teach me how to ride on the bike.
“Of course I arrive there, I take the bike, I was not so bad but then all the details, who was my teammate? I had Dani, and I had the honour to learn about him, because he were riding really good.
“Like he say in the press conference, his physical condition was some disadvantage in MotoGP, but the way of technique and performance, the sensibility with the bike, he is one of the best riders in MotoGP.”
Rossi: Pedrosa's retirement 'a great shame'
Yamaha's Valentino Rossi says Pedrosa's retirement is a “great shame”, and feels the series will lose “one of its best riders”.
Rossi – who has raced against Pedrosa since the Spaniard's MotoGP debut in 2006 – also admits the Spaniard's retirement is sad as he feels he deserved “at minimum one” premier class title.
“It's a great shame for MotoGP, because our sport loses one of the best riders in the last period,” Rossi said about the Spaniard, who finished three-times a runner-up in the premier class.
“It's also a great shame that Dani never win a world championship in MotoGP, I think he deserved at minimum one.
“It is also quite early, but his choice is very personal. I don't expect it, I think maybe he will continue with Yamaha, but he changed his idea.
“I think he thought a lot [about the decision]. It's a great shame for everybody.”
