Akiyoshi Takes Testing Role from Pedrosa at Jerez

Kosuke Akiyoshi will join Andrea Dovizioso in the Repsol Honda team for the official testing session at Jerez this weekend. Akiyoshi will replace the pre-season injured Pedrosa after the Spaniard suffered a serious accident in the second testing day in Qatar. Pedrosa underwent a surgery this month in Barcelona, following the night crash that caused hand and leg injuries. Repsol Honda officials earlier this week confirmed that Pedrosa's recovery goes well according to doctors and he should be back on track just like initially planned.

Obviously, Akiyoshi is very optimistic about the testing session he's about to enter, with team manager Kazuhiko Yamano expressing his confidence that the former Suzuki tester will do great at Jerez. On the other hand, the upcoming testing schedule is fairly important for Dovizioso too, as he is now taking the leading role in the team.

"This is an important test for the Repsol Honda Team and we're looking to use these two days to maximum effect as we approach the start of the season," he said. "The team gathered a lot of useful data at the previous tests in Sepang and Qatar and it's our intention to make significant progress in this final pre-season test.

Akiyoshi will ride Pedrosa's motorcycle during the Jerez testing session, which does nothing more than to emphasize the important role the ex-Suzuki tester will play this weekend.

"Dani won't be riding because it's important he recovers fully after his operation, and so Kosuke Akiyoshi will ride Dani's machine. Although in a perfect world Dani would be testing here, we're confident that Kosuke can ably assist Andrea with our development programme for the RC212V."