Just two weeks after returning from injury, Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa was back on the top step of the podium at the Sachsenring after a thrilling race-long battle with reigning World Champion, Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo and current points leader and Repsol Honda team mate Casey Stoner.

It was a heroic weekend’s work from the former 125 and 250 World Champion who had missed the Catalan, British and Dutch rounds with a fractured collarbone that required two operations.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be back and win a race so early; I didn’t expect it, but this circuit has been always very good for me and I made it happen,” Pedrosa exclaimed.

“I was already surprised yesterday with second position in qualifying and to finish the weekend in this way is amazing, a huge relief for me after a very hard time with injuries.”

Pedrosa was in sensational form, quickly making the break, leaving the other two to dispute second place. Not surprisingly, the Spaniard was exhausted in the final stages, but the remarkably resilient 25-year-old didn’t slacken. Only after the race did he reveal that he has been suffering from anaemia, probably the result of going under the knife twice in recent weeks.

“I’m very happy with this victory; I’ve been suffering a lot even though this race track is not physically demanding, because I’m still weak,” said Pedrosa.

“So a big thanks to my family and doctors that helped me to be back here because they all know how hard it has been. Also to my team and to all my fans that never gave up, they deserve it also.”

This was Pedrosa’s second win of the year and his fifth at the Sachsenring – three on MotoGP bikes and two on 250s.

Although he is still mathematically within reach of the 2011 MotoGP title, Pedrosa knows the championship isn’t a realistic goal, and will now focus on gaining strength and more race wins as the series heads to round ten at Laguna Seca.