MotoGP Aragon: Jump from ‘terrible’ Misano perplexes Pedrosa

Pedrosa was desperately off the pace in the preceding San Marino Grand Prix, unable to get his Michelin tyres within working temperature range on the wet track.

As team-mate Marc Marquez romped to victory, Pedrosa finished 14th, even beaten by LCR Honda privateer Cal Crutchlow, who crashed earlier in the race.

Less than two weeks on from Misano, Pedrosa finished second to Marquez in FP1 at Aragon and then posted the best time of the day in FP2.

Asked whether he could explain the discrepancy between his wet-weather pace at Misano and Aragon, Pedrosa said: "No.

"I only can tell you the bike is the same, the tyre is the same, the rider is the same.

"The only difference is the track.

"Obviously it's a shame in Italy to be that terrible.

"But at least we know we are fast [here], and next time when these things happen, we know it's not really rider's fault, or mechanics' fault.

"We know it's some external thing, not anything not being the way it should be."

Pedrosa added that his improved pace in Aragon did not come as a surprise.

He said: "Not today, it surprised me in Misano. Not today.

"I know here in the wet we are fast. But Misano was surprising to see that we cannot use the tyres."

Marquez, who ended Friday fourth-quickest, said he felt strong on the bike, but was trying to take no risks given that the rest of the Aragon weekend is expected to be dry.

"Of course it was important to ride, to get the feeling with the bike, but it's difficult to take conclusions or information because looks like tomorrow and Sunday will be dry conditions," he said.