Last season's runner-up Pedrosa is a diminutive figure, standing just 5ft 2in tall, and some critics suggested he was not big or strong enough to race in MotoGP.

But the youngest-ever 125cc and 250cc world champion won his second MotoGP race at Donington Park in 2006 and finished fifth overall in his debut season.

Hayden claimed the world title that year - the last winner of the 990cc era before the change to 800cc. He has struggled since the switch and finished a lowly eighth last year.