Colin Edwards has quickly changed his mind as to which series he intends to ride in next year, now aiming to stay in MotoGP as Ducati announces its departure from World Superbike in 2011.
With
Ducati shocking the racing world by announcing it is going to pull out of
World Superbike next year on the factory level, current Tech 3
Yamaha rider
Colin Edwards has been forced to make an abrupt 180-degree turn in regards to finding a ride for next year, now aiming to stay with his current
MotoGP team.
The Texan was heavily linked to the Xerox Ducati squad for next season, saying more than once that he was “sick of finishing in eighth position all the time," and that he wanted to finish his career winning races and standing on the rostrum. "I have kids now that are old enough to remember things and I want them to see their Dad on the podium,” he added.
He has also been very outspoken and critical of the Yamaha satellite team’s B-level equipment. “We have last year’s bike, just with a slower engine,” he said. “I’m riding better than ever and I look like a ****moron. If Ben’s bike was any good he’d be on the podium every weekend.”
In most cases this would be enough for a rider to start looking for a different team as getting re-signed would be merely a pipedream. However, luckily for the Texas Tornado, his outspoken nature has become one of his more liked qualities by the fans and the team seems to still be very happy with his performances, even if they aren’t quite up where his younger teammate has been finishing. He also has heavy backing from Yamaha U.S., who want to keep him onboard so as to retain him as a long-term Yamaha guy after retiring. And as one of the biggest worldwide markets for the Japanese manufacturer, the American division has a fair amount of pull with corporate Yamaha.
With World Superbike-recruit
Cal Crutchlow more or less already signed for 2011, having a more experience teammate to join the British rookie and continue the bike's development is paramount. Touted by many as
Going into Indy Edwards would tell anyone who would listen about the Tech 3 Yamaha's sub-par performance. Leaving Indy his outlook may have changed slightly.
one of the best development riders in the world, this also bodes well for the 36-year-old racing veteran.
The Indianapolis race was Edwards' 130th Grand Prix start; his tenure also includes rides for the factory Yamaha team for several seasons, Gresini Honda, and a baptism by fire aboard the volatile and often dangerous Aprilia Cube. With three pole positions and 11 podiums in his eight years on the tour, the only two GP accomplishments left for Edwards are that elusive first race win and the world championship.
This abrupt changing of heart by Edwards also puts
Ducati pulling out of World Superbike in a much different light. It was said by a source close to the team that this was merely a power-play by the Italian manufacturer to get the series’ rules massaged to better suit their forthcoming 1198-replacement for the 2012 season. With Edwards making such a strong push to stay at Tech 3 all of the sudden, Ducati’s announcement on Friday now seems to carry quite a bit more weight considering how keen they were to sign the American.
