Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa is happy to come away from the American Grand Prix at Laguna Seca with a third place result as he battles his way back from his early season collarbone injury.

“I’m very happy with another podium, the second after my come back from injury,” said the Spaniard.

Pedrosa stayed with the lead pack of team mate Casey Stoner and Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo for the first half of the race, before tiring later in the race to hold onto the commendable result.

“I could have predicted this result before coming to Laguna because I knew it would be physically very tough for me and it has been great to keep up with the pace of Casey and Jorge in these past two races.”

“Today, by the middle of the race, I was very tired, almost finished, I couldn’t get my left arm strong enough and here at this track you don’t rest for a moment, so I had to drop.”

“It’s been quite difficult to set up the bike this weekend, I had a lack of grip generally, but the team worked very well. Now we have some holidays and it will be good for me to have some days off to rest and relax my muscles and be back training to arrive fully fit to Brno.”

Pedrosa now has until August 14 to continue gaining strength and fitness before the next round at Brno, Czech Republic.