Honda's Dani Pedrosa has been inducted as an official MotoGP legend on Thursday in Valencia on the eve of his final grand prix appearance this weekend.
Pedrosa announced prior to the German Grand Prix weekend in July he would be calling time on his 18-year grand prix career, with Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezeleta confirming during the Honda rider's retirement press conference he would be made an official MotoGP legend.
The Spaniard has been a Honda loyalist throughout his time in the grand prix paddock, winning the 125cc world title in 2003 and back-to-back 250cc crowns in the following two seasons before stepping up to MotoGP with HRC in '06.
Pedrosa finished runner-up in the premier class standings on three occasions in a tenure frequently blighted by injury, and has tallied up 31 wins.
“It's a very emotional moment because you never really expect this moment to arrive when you are a kid fighting for your dreams and now to be here is a bit strange," said Pedrosa.
“But I'm happy because I felt a lot of support from all the fans and felt a lot of support from all the paddock, and I'm really happy about this moment to see here rivals from a lifetime.
"I feel that MotoGP gave me a lot of things in my life because basically I grew up here and I learned a lot of things in my life thanks to MotoGP, and in the same way I'm vry happy that I could give something else also to MotoGP."
Pedrosa will remain in the MotoGP paddock for at least the next two years after penning a deal to join KTM as one of its official factory test riders.
His place at Honda will be taken by outgoing Ducati man Jorge Lorenzo, who was announced as having signed a two-year deal just days after Pedrosa confirmed he would be leaving Honda during a time he was heavily linked to the Petronas Yamaha team.
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