Edwards close to Tech 3 deal
Added on Friday, July 11th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Edwards close to Tech 3 deal
Colin Edwards has given the clearest hint yet that he is set to sign a new contract with Yamaha Tech 3.
The American rider, whose contract expires at the end of the current MotoGP season, cast doubt over his own future earlier in the season when he admitted that he had held talks with Kawasaki over a potential deal.
Edwards, who has secured two podiums this season with the satellite Yamaha team, also questioned Tech 3′s financial muscle, suggesting that the team couldn’t meet his salary demands.
But it now appears that the 34-year-old is closing in on an agreement with the French team ahead of this weekend’s German Grand Prix.
“I’m extremely happy [at Tech 3]. Hopefully we can sort something out. I think Herve and Yamaha are keen to keep me. We’ve got some terms to discuss but basically I think it’s looking good,” said Edwards.
Edwards also admitted that the Sachsenring, this weekend’s venue for round ten of the MotoGP championship, leaves him somewhat apprehensive after feeling the heat in 2003.
Edwards saw his bike catch fire on his first appearance at the circuit when the fuel cap of his Aprilia came lose at around 120mph and the straight-talking Texan confessed that confidence could be a factor for him this week.
“Honestly, that barbeque in my first year scared the **** out of me!”
“It left a bad taste in my mouth. I’d come back here year after year and think ‘oh yeah, that’s where I caught fire’. I was never really confident going into this event.
“But last year we were fourth, we had a good race two weeks ago, we know we’ve got the bike sorted and now I’m looking forward to the weekend,” Colin concluded.
