Colin Edwards has signed a new one-year contract which will see him again ride for the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team in the 2011 MotoGP world championship, it was announced by the French-based squad on Sunday following the inaugural event at Motorland Aragón.
Edwards, who made his 100th appearance for Yamaha in Sunday's race, finishing twelfth overall, has raced for Herve Poncharal's Tech3 squad since 2008 and during that period the popular American has produced his best form in the MotoGP class.
Indeed the 36-year-old finished fifth in the overall standings last season as the top non-factory rider and he is currently eleventh in the 2010 rankings with a best result of seventh in Laguna Seca, Brno and Misano.
Edwards, who will team up with Cal Crutchlow in 2011, said he was ‘delighted’ to have a signed a deal that will keep him at the top level another year. He is also looking forward to working with Crutchlow and helping him adapt to MotoGP.
“I want to say a big thanks to Yamaha and to Tech3 for their unwavering support. I am honoured to continue my long and successful relationship with Yamaha, Herve Poncharal and all at Tech3,” Edwards continued.
“I love the team and feel like part of a big family and I'm thrilled that our adventure together is continuing next year. I'm excited at the challenge of competing in the MotoGP world championship again and still being competitive in probably the strongest field in history is an achievement I'm proud of.
“I am also looking forward to working with and helping out Cal Crutchlow next season. I'd like to think I helped James Toseland and Ben Spies adapt when they arrived in MotoGP, and I will be doing my utmost to do the same for Cal if he needs any advice. I think all of us can look forward to an exciting 2011 together.”
Meanwhile, Team Manager Herve Poncharal is pleased Edwards will stay on for a fourth season as he been a key figure in establishing the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team as the leading non-factory squad in MotoGP in the 800cc four-stroke era.
“I am thrilled to have reached a new agreement with Colin for the 2011 MotoGP world championship. His appetite and passion for racing is stronger than ever and he has been an incredible asset for the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team,” Poncharal added.
“He is a great character but he has consistently proven that he remains one of the fastest riders in the world and I am glad that the Tech3 story with Colin will go on for one more year.
"I believe with Colin's experience and boundless enthusiasm and Cal's hunger and desire to succeed in MotoGP that the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team can already look forward to 2011 with tremendous optimism.”
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