Edwards podium restores local pride for Tech 3 Yamaha

Although Colin Edwards fell just short of his predicted maiden MotoGP victory, the Alice Grand Prix still gave both he and Tech 3 Yamaha cause for celebration. The American gave the French team their first home podium since 2003 with a fantastic third place, and believes it was just a lack of acceleration that stopped him gunning for the win. Teammate James Toseland crashed out on the third lap.

Colin Edwards – 3rd

` I honestly thought that today was going to be my day with the pace I´d been able to run all weekend. I was fastest in free practice, fastest in the warm-up and second on the grid so I had high expectations. I really thought I could have got my first win out there, but I'll still settle for third because it was a tough race. I thought I´d got a good start and then Casey and Dani came flying by and it was almost impossible to pass them. I tried everything, but they just didn´t make any mistakes and I couldn´t get close enough. I wanted to get by them because looking at my lap times I know I had more in the locker, but I couldn´t pass. They just had the jump on me coming out of the corners with acceleration and it would have taken a risky move for me to do it. I´m an experienced rider and those guys are fighting for the world title while I´m in fifth, so I wasn´t going to do anything stupid. And when Valentino came blazing by like a cowboy with his guns shooting I knew he was going to push hard and that it would be tough for me. Casey had a problem and I got by him and then I passed Dani, as he seemed to check a bit at the first corner because of the rain. I didn´t think the rain was that bad and the lap times were not that much slower. I got to say a huge thanks to my team because I´ve wanted to give them a podium, and I guess there is no better to do it than in their home race. They´ve worked so hard and I'm glad to give them that podium. Congratulations to Yamaha as well because to have a 1-2-3 is fantastic. My Michelin tyres worked great too, so hopefully next time I can be closer to the win.´

James Toseland – DNF

` I´m pretty frustrated because a little mistake ruins all the hard work myself and the team have put in. I wish I could have a second go at it now like you get in Superbikes! I got a great start and really wanted to try and get away with the leaders but I lost a couple of places when John Hopkins came by with a hard but fair move. Andrea then made a small mistake and went slightly wide at the fourth corner and as I tried to go underneath him he came back on line and took my front wheel. It was just a racing incident but very disappointing because after that good start I felt like I could have got a good result. I´m already looking forward to coming back strongly at Mugello and having done a bit of testing there before it won´t be completely alien for me. Congratulations to Colin because he has been awesome all weekend. He has been on the pace since pre-season testing and he´s deserved that podium, as has the team for all their effort. It was great for Yamaha to dominate the podium so it proves what great work was done in the winter.´