Edwards wants to extend Yamaha stint

Eurosport - Fri, 03 Jul 13:29:00 2009

On the eve of his home US Grand Prix, Colin Edwards officially confirmed that he wants to remain with Monster Yamaha Tech 3 next season.

MOTORCYCLING 2009 MotoGP - Colin Edwards of Yamaha Tech 3 - 0

After three years alongside Valentino Rossi at the factory Yamaha team, Edwards moved to the satellite Tech 3 outfit for what was labelled as his final grand prix season in 2008.

But Edwards was rejuvenated by the move, scoring two podiums and one pole position on his way to seventh in the championship - two places higher than he'd been the previous year.

That led to an agreement to remain with Herve Poncharal's team for 2009 and, while no podiums have yet been forthcoming, the 35-year-old starts round eight as the top satellite rider in joint fifth position.

With rookies now unable to sign for factory teams (except Suzuki) from next season, Edwards and team-mate James Toseland are under extra pressure to keep their rides.

That pressure was eased when reigning 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli signed for Honda Gresini, but Simoncelli's rival Alvaro Bautista and World Superbike star Ben Spies are still being linked with MotoGP.

Although unlikely to ride for anyone but Yamaha in grand prix, rumours had linked Edwards with a possible return to WSBK with Aprilia, but the Texan has now made his intentions clear.

Obviously, I'd like to stay here, he said. I've got a good relationship with Herve, the team is getting along good and we're doing good. We get a bit of press here and there, so of course I'd like to stay.

Although yet to win a race, Edwards has taken ten podiums in MotoGP since his 2003 debut, including a second place on MotoGP's return to Laguna Seca in 2005.

But his US GP results since have been nowhere near that level, including a nightmare 14th in last year's race, when all the Michelin riders struggled with their tyre allocation - something that won't be a factor in this year's all-Bridgestone event.

I've got some good memories here from Superbike, but '05 was definitely our best year in grand prix and then it got worse, somehow, he smiled. But I'm here on Bridgestone's now and looking forward to it.

Edwards also revealed a secret plan for success: This week I've handed out some guns, and I've got some marines ready to take out some tyres and engines, he joked.

As well as Edwards, Toseland and factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo also have contracts which expire at the end of this season. Rossi is signed until the end of 2010 and has suggested he could continue beyond that date.

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Crash.net / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. Just thought I'd add my piece to it. Melandri is­ linked to a Honda, saw that in the Italian motor sports­ press this week, so it's got news worthy guys, so­ it might be for real. But what about a move to Yamaha­ for Tech3? He's european and fits with­ Monster's sponsorship agreements?

    From luke.moors, on Sat 4 Jul 3:29PM

  2. His message got hidden, so obviously no one agrees with­ him! Always someone gotta bring this message forum down­ to a low level aint they? I see him pop up here and­ there, he pinches some ideas of this EGK guy and even­ some off a guy called Graham, he even used Tony Carters­ ideas and passes em off as his own. Even Tony Carter­ has a peek at the message boards cos some of his posts­ have a liking to some of the stuff written here­ sometimes. Especially that announcement about the Kawk­ team and so on Carter did. Sure some of that info came­ from EGK's thread about the Kwak team breaking up!­ Seemed a lot like it...

    From luke.moors, on Sat 4 Jul 3:27PM

  3. EGK, this guy Brian, I've watched him a few times.­ He copies what you write on other forums. He's got­ no clue about bike racing. I reckon on him being one of­ those arm chair viewers....You know the kind, watch one­ or two races and think they know it in and­ out...Don't be put off by him. Your comments are­ pretty good and in the past you've hit the nail on­ the head, so you gotta be in the business somewhere. I­ still remember you buzzing the Honda engines for the­ moto2 class on here the day Yahoo pitched the name the­ FIM had given the class. Even before the specs were out­ you said it'd be a one engine class with Honda­ motors....To know that, you gotta be in the loop­ somewhere mate...

    From martonsteve, on Sat 4 Jul 3:19PM

  4. Brian, you again! How many times do I have to repeat­ myself to you? It's like teaching a monkey at­ times! I wrok and own a share in FCC technical sports­ in Japan. I live, love and work for bike racing.­ It's my life. I have some knowldege of Honda as FCC­ works closely with HRC in the all Japan series.­ I've been around for a long time, being in my­ 50's and having lived in Japan since the 80's,­ seeing the likes of Taira come through and make good­ ground and working and aiding Tomoko Igata during her­ first season in 125cc racing (I doubt you know who that­ is Brian, before your time I know)...As you only­ started watching motogp this year! FCC used to run­ Tobuatsu Aoki in the 500cc class aswel as having a­ large group of riders on Honda machinery in the 125 and­ 250cc classes. Buddy, you don't know the rules, you­ don't know half the riders names, you don't­ seem to know anything about rider histories, management­ or tech. I don't understand why you bother to make­ a comment, you have no views of your own. You just­ regurgitate mine out here and there! So, I am in the­ business, I put my money into it and I aim to have a­ part in FCC return to Motogp next year in Moto2. Plans­ are under way...

    From EGK, on Sat 4 Jul 3:06PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    EGK,
    Clue out, mate. Who do you think you are ? You­ get on these boards and throw around your high-minded­ elitist comments and then dump on other peoples­ opinions. You need to take your comments to another­ forum, mate. You're not in the motorcycle business,­ so don't pretend to know what goes on in it. Check­ yourself, mate. G'day.

    From ride_strong_1, on Fri 3 Jul 11:49PM

  6. Mary, wasn't James the 4th out of 4 Yamahas at­ Assen? And that was his best ride?
    I think 2 years is a­ long enough chance, he's simply not as good as­ Edwards, and I suspect Spies is better than both.

    From Chemical Ali, on Fri 3 Jul 10:55PM

  7. Bye Bye Toseland then. Yamaha have already signed Ben­ Spies for next season which leaves James without a­ ride. Tech3 will be Team USA next season then.

    From n99edw, on Fri 3 Jul 10:09PM

  8. Toseland and spies will deffo swap rides.

    From norfolk_aprilia, on Fri 3 Jul 8:08PM

  9. Taking a while to adjust from WSB? Bloody hell, he­ should be adjusted by now. He aint got what it takes­ at the very top level IMO.

    From Graham H, on Fri 3 Jul 6:01PM

  10. Toseland isn't really going backwards. He rode a­ brilliant race at Assen - did you see it? He is­ however taking a while to ajust from WSB. His­ overtaking etc was tremendous at Assen, we were sitting­ at the final corner before the start/finish and really­ thought it was the best show so far for him.

    From Mary P, on Fri 3 Jul 5:21PM

  11. Edwards and Spies swapping places? Toseland & Spies­ swapping places?

    From pfy1101, on Fri 3 Jul 1:09PM

  12. I feel that he will bounce back in this race and i feel­ toseland is just going backwards. Gareth H

    From BIG G, on Fri 3 Jul 12:58PM

  13. He may wish to stay but he needs to help ease the rift­ that has occurred between team mates. He should show­ the way being a senior and more experience rider than­ JT. No place for this in MotoGP

    From Mary P, on Fri 3 Jul 12:55PM

  14. Edwrads current form is deserving of a ride next­ season. But how often have we seen deserving riders­ cast aside for rookie, or one season wonders? But even­ if Edwards can't remain with Yamaha he may find a­ seat at any of the other teams looking for a fast,­ reliable rider and test rider! There are also seats­ available at Ducati, Suzuki and Honda for sure next­ year. Even if James Toseland can't maintain his­ Yamaha ride he most certainly will find a new home with­ most fingers pointing towards a privateer Ducati. His­ ties with Ducati from some time ago have not dissolved­ completely and it is thought Toseland is a sales­ booster in England. Although the smart money is on­ Spies to take Edwards ride at tech3 Yamaha with Edwards­ moving to WSB it might yet be rail roaded by Honda.­ Remember a certain Nicky Hayden was also meant to a­ Yamaha done deal? And then he went and signed for­ Repsol Honda. So nothing is concrete. And perhaps Spies­ being coy is because of that very reason, the best deal­ might mean bending the rules for the Texan!

    From EGK, on Fri 3 Jul 12:34PM

  15. He's having an in form season. But at his age,­ Yamaha must be looking to fielding a younger American­ rider next season. My bet would be that both Yamaha­ seats are changed to new riders. Randy De Puniet is a­ favorite of Harve Poncheral and is a sponsor­ attractions. He is also known as the "model"­ of the paddock and has raised cash for his current team­ through sporting glasses, aftershave and t-shirts made­ by high paying French designers. Spies is a certain to­ ride for Yamaha at Monster tech3, but if the rumours of­ Pedrosa's departure to Yamaha are followed through,­ it could mean HRC and sponsor power sign the rookie to­ the works team. Remember this guys, IRTA and the FIM­ cave when a huge sponsor and team like HRC flex their­ muscles. I wonder how long the rookie on a satelite­ bike will really hold out?

    From martonsteve, on Fri 3 Jul 12:27PM
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