Colin Edwards

[DucatiHoney]

while cal is a good rider, i don't think he's the same caliber of rider as spies.

if colin does worse than cal next year, i think it'd be time for him to retire and/or do strictly testing or better yet, as a commentator and replace russell.

Russell bugs, even though he seems to really know what he's talking about when he gets into it. I wish he'd talk more actually, because once he's done glossing over the basics for the newbie fans, he's got loads of race history stacked up in his egg. His voice is annoying but that's not terribly relevant. But Colin would be a great commentator on several levels if his camera appearances off the bike are an indicator of anything.

 

[DaveT319]

Disappointing? Compared to what? Bayliss? Byrne? Toseland? Perhaps your estimation of the talent pool in WSBK is inflated?

Compared to himself. 11 wins in WSBK in '02, 0 in the years since coming to MotoGP. That HAS to be disappointing for a racer. Look, I get that maybe the talent level in MotoGP is higher than in WSBK. But to go this long without without a single win in MotoGP, I would imagine that it is disappointing. Maybe he has no problem being an "also-ran", rarely really challenging for a win. But I would think at some point he'd think about going to another series where maybe he has a better chance of winning once in a while.

 

[Zerox]

Maybe he likes riding in the toughest racing class on the planet, and doesn't want to leave?

 

[DaveT319]

That could very well be the case. If he doesn't mind being on a satellite team with little chance of winning a race, then more power to him.

 

[Hawaiirider]

1. Edwards choke at Assen's last corner was probably his best chance to ever win a GP - and he blew it dicing with a rider that had already run off ! Poor bastard. Also, those points were ones Nicky needed to beat (Edward's teammate that year) Rossi - an epic screw-up, in retrospect.

2. When he won those WSBK titles he was on the Factory Honda with the magic Michelins - for which he was a well-regarded test-rider. No disrespect, but he was definately 'well supported' - unlike the Aprilia that caught fire leaving him few options but to bail off a quickly-moving bike. That was not good. In fact, that whole season is one he & Aprilia would probably like to forget.

3. The scene will be far less colorful when he does retire - aside from great interviews, who else could sell the concept of the 'Man-cation' ?

4. He has already talked about the riding facility he is building in TX - and the fact it's costing him big $, so he's going to keep racing for that measly Quarter-Mil-a-year as long as he can !

Unapoligeticaly, I'm a fan and wear my # 5 Yamaha/Arai hat when I watch the races, hoping he'll find so of the old fire/speed, but it not like I'm putting money down on it. GO 'old guys' - yeah, I cheer for Capirossi and Checa...

 

[TylerW]

Sad as it is to say, but there are a lot of riders int he GP paddock who I have much higher expectations of winning a race than CEII.

But if you gave me the opportunity to shake one rider's hand out of the entire class, he'd be my first pick.

 

[kiltwearinfool]

Sounds like he supports Edwards to an extent, but then:
Was he expecting Spies to take the title in his rookie year like SBK, on a sattelite bike?

Well, that would have shocked you, right?
Don't get me wrong - I've long been a fan of Edwards and Spies. The thing that most disappoints me is that the equipment satellite riders get is not on par with the factory guys. I think Spies definitely has the attitude and talent to be winning races, and I was hoping that Yamaha would see that and maybe backdoor some competitive parts to him so he could. But when one rider on your team is the current champ (Rossi) and the other is on a winning streak (Lorenzo), it doesn't behoove you to let other people be competitive.

I think Edwards still has the desire to finish on the box consistently, but I don't know what will get him there. He didn't do it while he had a factory bike (which he contended wasn't as good as Rossi's), and I don't think what he's riding now has enough engine to get him there. And unfortunately, if he went to SBK or M2, I don't think he'd be competitive. The M2 field is so big that he'd get chewed up if he wasn't up front.

 

[JO EBRMC]

Compared to himself. 11 wins in WSBK in '02, 0 in the years since coming to MotoGP. That HAS to be disappointing for a racer. Look, I get that maybe the talent level in MotoGP is higher than in WSBK. But to go this long without without a single win in MotoGP, I would imagine that it is disappointing. Maybe he has no problem being an "also-ran", rarely really challenging for a win. But I would think at some point he'd think about going to another series where maybe he has a better chance of winning once in a while.

I think most racers would give their left thumb to be in MotoGP even knowing that they will never win a race. I mean, how many riders have ever won a race? If the expectation is that you should only stick around if you are confident you can win a race, we'd have a grid of just 5-6 riders.

 

[wingnutthehutt]

Woohoo Go Colin!

 

[DaveT319]

I think most racers would give their left thumb to be in MotoGP even knowing that they will never win a race. I mean, how many riders have ever won a race? If the expectation is that you should only stick around if you are confident you can win a race, we'd have a grid of just 5-6 riders.

You have a bit of a point.

 

[cencalballer]

the best rumor I had heard was that he had been planning to got to the factory Ducati team in WSBK for this next season, before they went away. that would have been pretty interesting. but I guess Rossi doesn't want us to be happy.

He did an interview on soup and said the deal was done except Ducati said we don't know if we will have a team next year so we won't sign you until it is all clear what we are doing. There was no negotiating it sounded like either. He just gave them his terms they said yes but we might not be here next year. He's gonna end up in wsbk at some point. He wants to do it and to win again so his kids can see it as well as his wife again.

 

[Zerox]

I'm sure Colin is very very proud to be a MotoGP rider in 2011, if somebody wants his job they will have to take it, and he's doing a good job holding on. What's his secret?!?