Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa believes that his injuries will hamper him more at Laguna Seca this weekend than what they did on his way to victory in Germany just one week ago.

Pedrosa’s victory was both inspiring and unexpected. The Spaniard, 25, had only returned from collarbone surgery in the previous race at Mugello and the physically demanding Sachsenring was always going to be a challenge.

The single most important factor in allowing Pedrosa to race at the highest level was that the track has a preponderance of left-handed corners, which was less taxing on Pedrosa’s surgically repaired right collarbone.

Laguna Seca has been good to Pedrosa. He won the race from the second row in 2009 and finished second in his first visit to the track in 2006.

“It was nice to stop, even if only for a couple of days at home to enjoy the victory in Germany with my family and friends, who also deserved to celebrate,” Pedrosa said. “The United States Grand Prix will be another challenge for me.

“I know that I will suffer more in Laguna Seca because there are many hard braking areas and very fast direction changes. Anyway, it will be another race and I’ll try to prepare well and enjoy it as I did in Sachsenring.

“The track is very different to the European circuits and the atmosphere there is special. With the exception of last year, when I crashed, and in 2008 when I couldn’t race due to injury, I’ve always had fun racing in Laguna and the victory in 2009 was very exciting.

“In the second half of the season I want to enjoy the bike and gain the best results possible and would like to close the first part of the season with a good feeling.”

Laguna Seca also features mostly left-handed corners, but the shortest circuit in grand prix racing has no real straightaway, hard braking zones, quick changes of direction, and nowhere to rest.