Pedrosa: They won't like that I'm already in front

[R1 Biker]

Dani Pedrosa is expecting a big name backlash in this Saturday's Qatar Grand Prix, after he embarrassed many premier-class stars with a shock second place finish - on his MotoGP debut - in the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix.

The Repsol Honda rider was the talk of the paddock after charging from seventh to second in the Jerez race, then catching and shadowing dominant race leader Loris Capirossi - before the Italian eventually pulled away in the closing stages.

However, 20-year-old Pedrosa knows he faces a tough challenge to repeat that sensational debut performance this weekend - given that he has no previous experience of Losail on a MotoGP bike and is expecting a return to form for the likes of world champion Valentino Rossi.

"It will be a tough race I think because at the first round in Jerez many of the top riders had problems and they will not accept the situation, so I think they will be pushing hard to get back to their positions from the end of the season last year. And for sure they won't like that I'm already in front so they will be trying even harder to make sure that doesn't happen again. I think this will make the race faster," warned Dani.

"This season we're going to Qatar much earlier in the year and we will see how the conditions are because last year was very, very hot," he continued. "It will be more difficult for me because I have to learn the track with this machine and find the set-up in a much shorter time than in Jerez where we had a three-day test two weeks before the race. It'll be a good challenge."

Despite Pedrosa's characteristic caution, after Jerez few would rule out a podium repeat - especially if Ducati's Bridgestone tyres are unable to match the more proven Michelins at the desert track.