Bushiee46
27-10-2006, 14:50
Taken from crash.net:
To no great surprise, Yamaha has officially confirmed that Colin Edwards will continue with the Factory Yamaha team for a third season in 2007.
The 32-year-old American, who has previously won two World Superbike titles and has a best finish of fourth in the MotoGP World Championship, first signed as Valentino Rossi's team-mate in 2005 and has scored points in all but one of his 33 starts since then.
Edwards, who came within metres of claiming what would have been his first MotoGP victory at Assen earlier this year, faced pressure for his seat from Casey Stoner and then - more significantly - Rossi's title rival Nicky Hayden.
But with the Stoner negotiations breaking down early, and Honda successfully re-signing Hayden after a last minute push from the HRC management, Edwards found his future much more secure and has now signed a new one-year agreement, which will see him race Yamaha's new 800cc bike alongside Rossi next season.
"I couldn't be happier to be staying with Yamaha for another year," said the Texan. "It's no secret that this season we haven't achieved the results we should have had, but in the last few races I feel that things have started to turn around and we hope to finish on a high in Valencia. I couldn't ask for a better team-mate or team, I'm really happy at Yamaha and I can't wait to start working on the new bike!"
"The good partnership between Colin and Valentino is one of the strongest assets of our team," added Davide Brivio, team director of Yamaha's Factory Team. "We think that, for various different reasons, Colin wasn't able to show his full potential this year and that's why we're very glad to have the chance to work again together next year. We are confident that we can offer him the right package to enable him to stay at the top throughout next season. Working with Colin is a real pleasure and we're very happy to continue with him for another year."
"We are very happy to have retained Colin for another year," underlined Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl. "Although he hasn't had the easiest of seasons in 2006, he has given a strong showing in the last few races and has proven he can fight at the top of the MotoGP World Championship. He fits very well into the Yamaha 'family' and we're sure that he will play a key role in the development of the new 800cc Yamaha MotoGP bike alongside Valentino."
But while the Factory Yamaha Team will field an unchanged rider line-up of Rossi and Edwards next season, the team's title sponsor is yet to be confirmed - with Camel rumoured to be leaving.
To no great surprise, Yamaha has officially confirmed that Colin Edwards will continue with the Factory Yamaha team for a third season in 2007.
The 32-year-old American, who has previously won two World Superbike titles and has a best finish of fourth in the MotoGP World Championship, first signed as Valentino Rossi's team-mate in 2005 and has scored points in all but one of his 33 starts since then.
Edwards, who came within metres of claiming what would have been his first MotoGP victory at Assen earlier this year, faced pressure for his seat from Casey Stoner and then - more significantly - Rossi's title rival Nicky Hayden.
But with the Stoner negotiations breaking down early, and Honda successfully re-signing Hayden after a last minute push from the HRC management, Edwards found his future much more secure and has now signed a new one-year agreement, which will see him race Yamaha's new 800cc bike alongside Rossi next season.
"I couldn't be happier to be staying with Yamaha for another year," said the Texan. "It's no secret that this season we haven't achieved the results we should have had, but in the last few races I feel that things have started to turn around and we hope to finish on a high in Valencia. I couldn't ask for a better team-mate or team, I'm really happy at Yamaha and I can't wait to start working on the new bike!"
"The good partnership between Colin and Valentino is one of the strongest assets of our team," added Davide Brivio, team director of Yamaha's Factory Team. "We think that, for various different reasons, Colin wasn't able to show his full potential this year and that's why we're very glad to have the chance to work again together next year. We are confident that we can offer him the right package to enable him to stay at the top throughout next season. Working with Colin is a real pleasure and we're very happy to continue with him for another year."
"We are very happy to have retained Colin for another year," underlined Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl. "Although he hasn't had the easiest of seasons in 2006, he has given a strong showing in the last few races and has proven he can fight at the top of the MotoGP World Championship. He fits very well into the Yamaha 'family' and we're sure that he will play a key role in the development of the new 800cc Yamaha MotoGP bike alongside Valentino."
But while the Factory Yamaha Team will field an unchanged rider line-up of Rossi and Edwards next season, the team's title sponsor is yet to be confirmed - with Camel rumoured to be leaving.