Anyone who wonders why Dani Pedrosa continues to receive the highest-level of backing that Honda can give a rider needs only to look at his performance in yesterday’s Le Mans MotoGP.

Starting from 13th on the grid after cold track temperatures made it difficult for the lightweight rider to get heat into the front Michelin, Pedrosa got through the first chicane cleanly - something that had kept him awake at night - and sliced his way to seventh by the end of lap one.

“It was truly a hard situation before the start because I was thinking all night long, how I can make it through the first chicane because this chicane is so tight. When you are so far back it is so easy to touch somebody or somebody touch you and make a mistake,” said the tiny Spaniard.

“That chicane stretches the race so much, that it is still difficult to make ground later even if you are fast. I knew I had a good pace from yesterday so this gave me confidence but at the same time I knew I had to get through somehow. I was really focused on that point and I could make a nice and clean chicane.

“The start was nice also and a little later in the lap I could overtake more riders. I'm happy because at the end of the first lap I wasn't that back of the pace of the front group as I expected to be, then I just focused on the pace.”

With some clear track, Pedrosa dropped into the 1’32s and set off after the leaders, passing Andrea Dovizoso and Cal Crutchlow on the way - but unintentionally tangled with the LCR Honda man when unsighted.

“Cal was on the limit because I saw the opening when he made a little mistake and I went through on the inside of the turn and leaning on the right side, I couldn't really see him any more. Then in that moment he closed the door, covering his line, and then we hit together but fortunately nobody crashed and it wasn't my intention to touch him.

“After that I could get some ground on Marc, recovering little by little and keeping my pace, so finally the last laps I struggled more and had some chatter on the front, I don't know exactly why.

“I was there in fourth position and couldn't really gain any ground because the Yamahas started to be faster at the end, fighting for the victory. It was a nice gift at the end from Valentino, which is a nice feeling to be in the podium today after starting 13th.”