Pedrosa Out, Aoyama In For Dutch GP

Cycle News Staff | June 22, 2011

Dani Pedrosa will miss this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix in Assen, the oft-injured Spaniard to be replaced on the factory Repsol Honda team by San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Hiroshi Aoyama.Pedrosa was suffered a broken collarbone in the French Grand Prix on May 15 – 38 days ago – when he collided with Marco Simoncelli as the two battled for second place.

The 25-year-old has undergone two surgeries since the accident to repair the break.With Aoyama taking Pedrosa’s spot, Honda has brought in HRC test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi to ride alongside Simoncelli on the San Carlo Honda Gresini team.Aoyama is currently seventh in the MotoGP World Championship. The Japanese rider finished 15th in his rookie season of MotoGP racing last year – the year following his 250cc World Championship.

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