Dani Pedrosa says he 'can't continue racing' with arm injury

Dani Pedrosa has finished on the podium in 94 MotoGP races since his debut in 2006.

Dani Pedrosa says pain in his arm means he may not be able to continue racing just one race into the MotoGP season.

Pedrosa, 29, finished sixth in Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix after qualifying in second place.

He said: "I had serious problems with my right forearm and I was suffering in every race last season.

"It is the most difficult moment of my career. I cannot continue racing and performing this way. It is difficult to imagine what a solution could be."

Pedrosa has won 26 races in MotoGP, finishing as runner-up in the championship on three occasions, and is team-mate to defending champion Marc Marquez.

Sunday's season-opening race was won by Valentino Rossi, with Marquez in fifth place.

MotoGP riders regularly suffer from 'arm pump' - a condition caused by the forces of braking from over 200mph - and it is usually treated by surgery between races.

But Pedrosa says he has been told to avoid further surgery in his career.

He said: "I worked very hard over the winter in order to find a solution, because I was suffering in every race last season.

"I went through one surgery last year and it wasn't successful. I tried not to say in public; obviously it wasn't an easy thing. Honda always knew about it.

"Every doctor recommended that I not undergo another operation and I have tried to look for alternatives, but by the looks of things nothing is working positively for it.

"Now I have to assess my options and see what I can do."

The next race takes place in Texas on 12 April.