Colin Edwards takes CRT 1000cc challenge for 2012 MotoGP World Championship
The American MotoGP star, Colin Edwards accepted the challenge for the 2012 MotoGP season to develop the new kid on the block under Forward Racing livery.
The Texas Tornado has left Monster Yamaha Tech3 team by the end of 2011 MotoGP season. He was offered a contract with Forward Racing that will participate in the 2012 premier class season under Claiming Rule Team (CRT) regulations.
He has been well known for being one of the best test riders and has spent a lot of time developing different machines.
The CRT class was introduced during the 2011 MotoGP season to reveal a new line of contenders in the top motorcycle racing category.
The new teams showed interest in the new category that helped to lower the cost for a MotoGP racing project. The attraction in the new regulation was to power the bikes with a production based engine with a choice of chassis.
The engine could be used from any manufacturer comprising 1000cc displacement. Edwards has a vast experience of racing and developing the 990cc MotoGP prototypes. The return of 1000cc machines raised the importance of the veteran for the new born competitors
in the class.
The Texan rider started his MotoGP career in 2003. His debut season in the class was with Aprilia team while riding a RS3 Cube motor.
In the following season 2004, he joined the Honda family and ran a positive season. He collected his career’s first podium finish at the Donington event. The 2004 season came fifth in the world championship in that season.
The 2005 season was more exciting for the Texan rider as he joined the Yamaha factory team. He teamed up with Valentino Rossi at Yamaha garage.
His best shot for that season was a second place finish at the Laguna Seca circuit, behind Nicky Hayden. He took fourth place in the world championship ranking.
The 2006 season was endured with little problems. The Yamaha YZR-M1 had a chatter problem that caused severe tyre wear. However to cater the problem a new chassis was built for the season.
Fortunately, the new chassis helped Rossi to achieve success shortly. He won the home event at Mugello for the fifth consecutive time, since 2001. The Italian was quick to learn the positive change.
On the contrary, Edwards was not able to cope up with the new chassis and ended his season in seventh position.
The 2007 season marked his last season with the Yamaha factory team. He took two podium finishes in the season first at Spain and the second at Britain. He completed his season in ninth place.
After his move in the 2008 MotoGP season, he spent recent four seasons with the Tech3 squad while struggling for the win in his career, but could not achieve his goal.
While committing to the satellite team he was replaced with Jorge Lorenzo at the factory team. Again, he took only two podium finishes in the season along his teammate James Toseland. He completed the season in seventh place.
Coming to 2009, the second season as the satellite Yamaha rider he confirmed himself as one of the consistent riders. This only took one podium at Britain while taking fifth position in the championship.
The 2010 season was an extension to his contract and this time he was joined by 2009 World Superbike Champion Ben Spies.
His final year with the squad saw him taking single podium in Silverstone and ending up in ninth place on the point’s table.
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