Tech 3 pair reflect after hard day for Michelin

As the action got underway at the Cardion ab Grand Prix Ceske republiky the Michelin supplied riders were hoping for an improvement in competitiveness after a below-par performance last time out in the U.S., but things did not go exactly according to plan on day one at Brno.

Despite engine updates from their Japanese factory suppliers Tech 3 Yamaha riders Colin Edwards and James Toseland failed to make any great impression as they ended the day seventh and thirteenth quickest respectively.

Indeed, one of Michelin´s longest serving current MotoGP riders, Edwards, who had requested improvements after a disappointing fourteenth place at Laguna Seca, could not conceal his frustrations with his rubber allotment as Friday´s Czech practice runs concluded.

Edwards commented, `We struggled. In the morning I think I was the fastest Michelin rider and the same in the afternoon. I think I am the only Michelin in the top ten. I didn´t fly for fifteen hours to Prague and then drive another two and a half for an exhibition. We are having some problems with the front end and I am having to spend time setting the bike up to just `speedway´.´

The experienced Texan went on to explain that he was confident in the material he would have available for qualifying but beyond the he was worried about what to expect, revealing, `We have tried all our tyres but there is nothing out there that is going to work. We have got something that will do two laps, something that will do four laps, but when we have to go 22 laps we have a problem. We´re struggling.´

Edwards´ rookie Tech 3 team-mate Toseland had forced his way into the top ten with 13 minutes remaining in the afternoon, before a small crash when he ran into the gravel at the downhill Kevin Schwantz corner slowed his progress.

The Englishman said philosophically, `It looks a little bit worse than it actually is because we have moved in a good direction with the set-up. And the new engine is fantastic, so a massive thanks to Yamaha for giving the team and me this level of support. It just feels stronger and you seem to be getting through the gearbox a lot more progressively.´

`We have just got a lot of hard work to do with Michelin,´ continued Toseland. `Now the track is cleaning up a little we are getting more life out of the tyre and the grip level is not so bad. But we can still make it better and I am staying positive and trying to work as hard as I can. When I ran off I just braked a bit too late down the hill. I thought I was going to be able to stay on it but it high-sided me in the gravel.´