Colin Edwards 'in negotiations' for 2012

MotoGP news

Date: 20/06/2011

Colin Edwards, who had previously indicated that 2011 could be his last season of MotoGP racing, has revealed he is 'in talks and negotiations' for a 2012 contract. 

The popular Texan, 37, joined MotoGP as a double World Superbike champion at the start of 2003, and has since ridden for Aprilia, Honda and Yamaha. 

After being pushed aside as Valentino Rossi's Factory Yamaha team-mate in favour of Jorge Lorenzo in 2008, Edwards switched to the satellite Tech 3 Yamaha team for what was touted as his final season of grand prix racing. 

But Edwards flourished in the more relaxed environment, scoring podiums in both 2008 and 2009, when he also finished as the top satellite rider in the world championship (fifth).

A tough 2010 - caused, he says, by less competitive machinery - reignited retirement speculation, however Edwards has bounced back once again in 2011. 

Colin narrowly missed out on a podium at round two at Jerez, before claiming a remarkable third place at Silverstone, just a week after breaking his collarbone.

With Edwards back on form and MotoGP making a return to a Superbike-sized 1000cc next season, it seems Edwards will delay his retirement once again.

"I don't a contract at the moment. Obviously in talks and negotiations. As far as Yamaha is concerned, it's just a matter of signing a piece of paper and making sure I'm not riding anything else before I jump on the 1000 and test it," said Edwards, during a media teleconference organised by Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Even if Edwards isn’t able to secure another extension to his current Tech 3/Yamaha contract, with six new 'Claiming Rule Teams' (CRTs) joining the MotoGP grid next year his experience and renowned development skills are sure to be in high demand.

Edwards isn’t sure how competitive these new privateer teams and their 'homemade' machines will be against the factory bikes - even with the extra fuel and engine concessions - but there are two things they can’t do without.

"The budget's got to be large and you've got to have a good rider," he said. "You've got to have someone who knows what the hell they're doing, especially when you bring in a new chassis or put a different engine in a chassis.

"You've got to have someone who knows what the hell they're doing riding it, to be able to give you the correct information. It's very easy to get wrong information translated, and then you end up going backward and doing circles and coming back to your original start position.

"'Can [the CRT concept] work?' Yes, it can. Sure. But things have to just happen in the right order."

CRTs have been introduced to try and boost MotoGP grid numbers, which have sunk to just 17 full time riders.

And with Edwards' team-mate Cal Crutchlow joining Honda's Dani Pedrosa on the sidelines, also with broken collarbone, just 15 riders began the British Grand Prix.

"I think having 15 people start a motorcycle race is ridiculous," said Edwards. "Especially in Grand Prix, and especially when you've got, what, 24 Formula One cars starting. I think 15 is not enough. That needs to definitely get up to the low to mid-20s, at a bare minimum."