Edwards highly satisfied, Toseland regaining confidence

Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 completed a successful Qatar test on Tuesday, Colin Edwards looking comfortable throughout the three night visit and James Toseland improving on the final evening.

Colin Edwards continued his impressive winter testing form during the MotoGP Official Night Test at the Losail International Circuit, the American consistently appearing in the top three for the majority of the test as he continued an impressive switch to Bridgestone tyres.

A best time of 1’57.515 left the experienced Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider ninth on the final timesheets, though he was just 0.291s off fourth placed Chris Vermeulen’s pace.

With an eye on the first GP of the 2009 season in Qatar on 12th April, Edwards also completed a full 22-lap race simulation on the final evening of the test. maintaining a consistent pace throughout. His best time of the race simulation of 1’57.932 was set on his last lap.

“I am really happy with this test,” he said afterwards. “I’ve got to say the Yamaha and Bridgestone combination is very impressive. I’ve just been concentrating on trying to find a good setting for the race, even though we expect the temperature to be a little warmer when we return, but I’m really confident.”

“I couldn’t believe my race simulation. The grip from the Bridgestone tyres is really incredible and I’m seriously impressed. The grip just gets better the more distance you run on it and I did my best lap in the race simulation on the last lap. That’s just not something I’m used to at all. I feel stronger and more motivated than ever.”

James Toseland, meanwhile, made slow progress throughout the test, to post a best lap of 1’58.786 on the last night. That was 1.5s faster than his previous best time, but he still ended up way down the timesheet in 15th place overall.

Nonetheless, building up his confidence after a spectacular crash in Malaysia last month, he left Qatar in good spirits, stating, “It wasn’t an easy test but on the last night I felt like we were finding a good direction and I was certainly feeling a lot more comfortable on the bike. The crash in Sepang hit my confidence and it took me a while to find my rhythm, but I feel I can go much faster now. I just need time on the bike.”