Pedrosa: tyres will be crucial factor

The Honda rider was beaten to pole by Casey Stoner at Laguna Seca, but overcame the championship leader to take the win at the Sachsenring a week ago.

The hot conditions likely for the US race are expected to be similar to the weather in Germany, where Stoner struggled on his Bridgestones on race day and the Michelin-shod Pedrosa pulled away.

"Let's hope to be okay for the race," said Pedrosa to Italia1 television.

"Tomorrow it will be a long race: let's hope the tyre will go well.

"I think it will be the same temperature as today and with a lot of wind.

"The choice of tyres is never easy, we are yet to decide. Let's hope we do well."

He would not be drawn on whether he would be able to make a similar early break at Laguna as he had at the Sachsenring.

"If you can run at a quick pace you can certainly break away from the rest, but we'll see tomorrow how the tyres do," Pedrosa said.

Repsol Honda are chasing a third successive US GP win tomorrow, having taken victory in the 2005 and 2006 races with Nicky Hayden, who will start fourth this year.