Edwards the beneficiary of late Dutch drama

Colin Edwards spoke to motogp.com after he was involved in more late drama at Assen on Saturday, as a stunning surge from the back of the field was rewarded with third place.

For the second time in three years, having himself crashed out in 2006 to hand Hayden victory in the Netherlands, Edwards was involved in another dramatic incident at the final chicane with the Repsol Honda rider as he snatched third from his fellow American just metres from the finish line.

Trailing Hayden by over seven seconds on lap fifteen, Edwards halved the deficit by the last lap, but having settled for fourth, he grabbed third with Hayden running out of fuel exiting the final corner.

Edwards had ridden a brilliant race from sixth on the grid, being slowed down into last position on the first corner by a crash ahead of him, only to fight his way back into contention as the race progressed.

`On the last lap, it was a case of what comes around, goes around, two years later,´ said Edwards. `Nicky came out of the last corner and I guess it was mechanical or fuel. I saw it and then we got on the podium!´

Having had his wife, daughter and son in attendance as he secured his second rostrum appearance of 2008 Edwards commented, `It is great to have my kids here and my wife as well. They don´t get to come to many races and to actually get on the podium, for them to look up and see daddy up there, that is something special, so thanks to my team because they have done a fantastic job this weekend.´

On his old team-mate Valentino Rossi´s first lap accident, which hindered Edwards´ early progress, the experienced Yamaha rider said, `I saw it happen, as I was right behind him. On the first lap anything can happen, and he was trying to force it in there. Basically the corner turned left and Randy de Puniet was there so he turned into him and that is racing I guess.´