Pedrosa rues slight lack of pace

The crowd favourite finished right behind Stoner and Rossi and repeatedly tried to get between them as they diced in the closing stages, but his Repsol Honda did not have quite enough pace to take on the Ducati and the Yamaha.

"It was difficult to stay with them, especially in the middle of the race," said Pedrosa.

"I think with 10 laps remaining I could get closer again, but I think in one part of the track I was losing a lot so I needed to recover on the other parts of the track, so I couldn't fight with them.

"I was watching the fight, but I wasn't getting in there - it was difficult. I just had to wait until the last moment, but I wasn't close enough so third is okay.

"I was enjoying it because they were passing in not typical places. That's why I wanted to get in there also but I was a little bit too far (behind) and I couldn't make it."

Pedrosa said he was still pleased to finish so close to his two championship rivals, and believes that Honda are making good progress.

"At least this time we finished together, so I'm happy with that," he said.

"We are starting now to get better and better every time. So I hope to keep improving in the next races and step up our level."

The Spaniard remains third in the championship, but is now 42 points behind Stoner and 28 adrift of Rossi.