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Colin Edwards wants to stay at Tech 3

Posted by Staff

Friday, 03 July 2009

Colin Edwards wants to stay at Tech 3

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.

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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