COLIN EDWARDS

Are they something to get excite about? He's put up some good times,even though there was no-one else in SEPANG but ROSSI.and he is doing it again in day 1 at LOSAIL.His times are better then last year at the same track.I know there not unda race conditions and using special tyres.But should i be getting excited? Is the TEXAS TORNADO making one last run for it.Before hangin them up.Is the man tired of playing second fiddle to his teammate? and racing with his "BALLZ TO THE WALLZ"this year,I hope.The man has the skills, always had.Now i just hope these glimpses are the real deal.Or am i over doing it,a tad bit?
I see there are alot of EDWARDS fans here in the forum, whats ur take on what he's doing during the winter testing?Something to get excite about? Or has lost his drive and become to passive?

He is an excellent testing rider and we know he has the speed in him. But i am not yet convinced anything is gonna change. He won the BMW award last year and then his results never really picked up. It'd be nice for him to shine, but it'll take a good few solid results before i am convinced he has that edge that it takes to be a heavy hitter in the championship.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 13 2007, 12:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He is an excellent testing rider and we know he has the speed in him. But i am not yet convinced anything is gonna change. He won the BMW award last year and then his results never really picked up. It'd be nice for him to shine, but it'll take a good few solid results before i am convinced he has that edge that it takes to be a heavy hitter in the championship.


This should help his chances, Yamaha promises equal machinery

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/nav?page=mot...ry=SPORT_MOTOGP

i hope he does go for it this year,i like colin and i dont like to see him cruisin, not sure he can get the championship,after all theres some tough boys there this year but it would sure be good to see him win a few race's

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ctkell @ Feb 13 2007, 04:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This should help his chances, Yamaha promises equal machinery

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/nav?page=mot...ry=SPORT_MOTOGP

If Yamaha were smart...they'd stop ....... around and give all the Yamaha riders the full package......like Honda, and their sat teams...

anyhow...GO COLIN!... it'll be his last dance if he doesn't pull out some wins.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Trigga @ Feb 13 2007, 10:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Are they something to get excite about? He's put up some good times,even though there was no-one else in SEPANG but ROSSI.and he is doing it again in day 1 at LOSAIL.His times are better then last year at the same track.I know there not unda race conditions and using special tyres.But should i be getting excited? Is the TEXAS TORNADO making one last run for it.Before hangin them up.Is the man tired of playing second fiddle to his teammate? and racing with his "BALLZ TO THE WALLZ"this year,I hope.The man has the skills, always had.Now i just hope these glimpses are the real deal.Or am i over doing it,a tad bit?
I see there are alot of EDWARDS fans here in the forum, whats ur take on what he's doing during the winter testing?Something to get excite about? Or has lost his drive and become to passive?
Three words:

It's only testing

Even with equal machinary how many times in a year do you think Edwards can out race Rossi, it wont be many. And on those days he has to hope that nobody else is going faster. If he wins one race i will be impressed, but if he wins more than 1 i will be totally shocked.

In that article Edwards says he just wants to start this year out on a even playing field..
Well, didn't they start out on the 'same' machinery last year? They didn't change stuff for Rossi untill the problems got bigger DURING the season.
(someone correct me if I'm wrong)

In any case, even if Rossi got special parts, how special could they really be in a PROTOTYPE class? When Rossi swiched chassis that didn't mean Edwards was going to be fast on it also..(in fact didn't he test the 'new' frame as well?)
Truth is Rossi is really the only one on the team who could make that Yamaha run up front, while Collin, even if he would have gotten 'special' parts, probably wouldn't be able to..

I think Edwards' motivation is better than ever and his times are indicating that. But keep in mind, he was just as quick last year and in 2004 when he went to Honda he was awfully fast in the pre season. I think he will be improved in comparison to any other year he has been in MotoGP but I'm not sure he's got a title chase in him for the year. I hope I'm wrong though.

As far as the equal machinery thing anyone's guess is just as blind as anyone else's. I would assume they started off on equal machinery in 2006 but once the chatter problem came about Rossi was a step ahead in receiving parts. Just my assumption.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Feb 13 2007, 02:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i hope he does go for it this year,i like colin and i dont like to see him cruisin, not sure he can get the championship,after all theres some tough boys there this year but it would sure be good to see him win a few race's
Nice to see you are giving the guy alittle more credit Rog, even though it is limited to "hope" rather than the "not going to look too much into it" line you were towing last time about testing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Feb 13 2007, 04:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think
Uhm, is that you Ooost? Who is Austin? Can we change our names on this forum?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Alex @ Feb 13 2007, 02:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Three words:

It's only testing
Technically that’s two words and a contraction. If you really wanted to get technical, it four words.

Meh, Colin was always fast in practice, he was often in the top 5, usually in the top 2...... then come race day he would be the definition of anonymity. Stuck somewhere in mid-pack every single race. He's the MotoGP equivalent of Aston Villa.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (IsraeliRacer @ Feb 14 2007, 02:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He's the MotoGP equivalent of Aston Villa.
That's terribly harsh. Couldn't we associate him with someone like Tottenham?

Nah, Spurs win something on occasion.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Feb 13 2007, 06:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think Edwards' motivation is better than ever and his times are indicating that. But keep in mind, he was just as quick last year and in 2004 when he went to Honda he was awfully fast in the pre season. I think he will be improved in comparison to any other year he has been in MotoGP but I'm not sure he's got a title chase in him for the year. I hope I'm wrong though.

As far as the equal machinery thing anyone's guess is just as blind as anyone else's. I would assume they started off on equal machinery in 2006 but once the chatter problem came about Rossi was a step ahead in receiving parts. Just my assumption.


Yeah, it has to be better to get parts first, but implies you have to spend time trying them ‘first’ too. Some riders like this, some don’t. But what about Eduards trying ‘new parts’? Has he done it? Does he like that? Help me out here, don’t know!

It will be interesting to see how this progresses.

Does this not show why Yamaha have Colin on board?
My man seems to take a lot of critisism on here. I'm not one for arguing about it because, quite frankly, Colin seems happy!!!
But just because he isn't winning races, and I doubt he will be in the title chase this year, don't underestimate the importance of his input into the team.

You notice how Valentino praises his team, hugs of appreciation and all that jazz. You notice he includes Colin in that. Perhaps Colin's job description is something along the lines of develop the bike, look after Valentino, and stay fit! If this is the case (and I am only guessing), does this make Colin lacking in ambition, or a true professional?

I can understand folk giving Colin a bit of stick for not being a regular front runner, I'd be overjoyed to see him winning races. But only one man can win, and in truth I wonder how many of those guys actually believe they can win? If we continue with this....."such and such has got no ambition"..........."such and such is too slow"........."such and such is on a crap machine"........and the subsequent.... "Why do they bother?"........., then we end up with a 6 man grid, and we all remember F1 Indy!!!

Like Alex says, it's only testing. We can't read too much into individual performance because this is not a race situation. We can agree that Team Yamaha are looking strong.

I think Burky has hit the nail on the head. Thats the most convincing argument for employing edwards i have seen yet. And i agree, it looks like he does a great job for the team. Would another fast guy in the team upset Rossi, afterall he doesn't like to be threatend.

But still, i wouldn't be expecting wins from colin, i would expect the same old zero improvement over last year performance he puts in every year with blinding consistency. If thats what yamaha ask of him then fair enough, but i still think they could look further to the future.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (news1213 @ Feb 14 2007, 12:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>In any case, even if Rossi got special parts, how special could they really be in a PROTOTYPE class? When Rossi swiched chassis that didn't mean Edwards was going to be fast on it also..(in fact didn't he test the 'new' frame as well?)
Truth is Rossi is really the only one on the team who could make that Yamaha run up front, while Collin, even if he would have gotten 'special' parts, probably wouldn't be able to..

Have to disagree with you on this I'm afraid. I think Colin's perfectly capable of running with the big boys. He just lacks the confidence to take it all the way. Think of how he led the race at Assen and also how he binned it within view of the finish line. Hopefully we'll see some good rides from him this year.

Its difficult to judge just how good Edwards is genna be as he always looks fast in testing, then can never transfer it to the race. I think this year could be different but its impossible to tell until march 10th. This is his last year to shine and i do hope i get to watch his first motogp win. i just cant wait.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Burky @ Feb 14 2007, 10:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Does this not show why Yamaha have Colin on board?
My man seems to take a lot of critisism on here. I'm not one for arguing about it because, quite frankly, Colin seems happy!!!
But just because he isn't winning races, and I doubt he will be in the title chase this year, don't underestimate the importance of his input into the team.

You notice how Valentino praises his team, hugs of appreciation and all that jazz. You notice he includes Colin in that. Perhaps Colin's job description is something along the lines of develop the bike, look after Valentino, and stay fit! If this is the case (and I am only guessing), does this make Colin lacking in ambition, or a true professional?

I can understand folk giving Colin a bit of stick for not being a regular front runner, I'd be overjoyed to see him winning races. But only one man can win, and in truth I wonder how many of those guys actually believe they can win? If we continue with this....."such and such has got no ambition"..........."such and such is too slow"........."such and such is on a crap machine"........and the subsequent.... "Why do they bother?"........., then we end up with a 6 man grid, and we all remember F1 Indy!!!

Like Alex says, it's only testing. We can't read too much into individual performance because this is not a race situation. We can agree that Team Yamaha are looking strong.


Well put Burky. It could also be argued that Yamaha don't have the same money or resources as HRC, and they have thrown thier wieght behind Vale. When Schumacher went to Ferrari, they through the money into having the best driver in the best equipment. The other drivers knew this and accepted it. It took them a few years to win though. I think Rossi's Yamaha move was a similar thing, Colin is no slouch, and there has never been a question of him on equal footing to Rossi, so I dont think thats n issue. As Burky says, how many guys genuinely believe they can be MotoGP champ? Surely it is better to be a part of a team as successful as Yamaha, than to be "another" Honda rider on the grid. Edwards is a successful racer, and nobody's fool, so he has made a descision to suit his career.

Edwards obviously has an important input into the development of the Yamaha, which, has to be more satisfying than being handed a Honda that the factory has told you will win races.

I'd love to see him at the front this year, I'd love to see him take the No2 plate behind Vale. But we have to be realistic. If you had invested in Rossi to the extent Yamaha have, would you be pushing a guy you pay less, and doesn't have the same market value to kick his ...?

It's not unusual to see a Rossi painted Aprillia, Honda or Yamaha, but when did you last see an Edwards rep Honda SP2? (the Aprillias dont count, he didnt win the world title twice on that!) Quite simply, with a phenomenon like Rossi on board the bike, Yamaha know where the cash is coming from. And where it's gone.


Pete