Milestone weekend for Edwards as Crutchlow aims to continue progress

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team makes its third visit of the season to Spain this weekend for the 14th round of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship at the magnificent Motorland Aragón circuit.

Sunday's race will provide another milestone in the distinguished career of Colin Edwards, who is poised to make his 150th MotoGP start. The 37 year-old has been one of the most consistent performers in the Championship since he arrived in the paddock back in 2003 and this season has been no exception, the popular American chasing an 11th consecutive point-scoring finish of the season this weekend.

Edwards currently sits ninth in the overall standings on 87 points and he is hoping for a strong result this weekend to bounce back quickly from a difficult race at Misano. Edwards was battling for a place inside the top seven before he was struck by a severe arm pump problem. Edwards has been able to rest and recover for more than a week at his Texas home and he is confident the issue will not be a problem at Motorland Aragón.

British rider Cal Crutchlow heads into the weekend with his confidence boosted by a hard fought 10th place in Misano. Crutchlow has worked tremendously hard in the last races to find a more confident front-end set-up with his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine and he is looking forward to continuing that progress this weekend.

The Motorland Aragón track throws up another new challenge for Crutchlow, who has never raced on the technical 3.155-mile layout before. The 2009 World Supersport champion though has demonstrated his ability to quickly learn new tracks in his rookie campaign and he's targeting another top 10 assault in Sunday's 23-lap race.

Colin Edwards:

“I can't believe I'm going to be making my 150th MotoGP appearance this weekend. It feels like only yesterday since I moved from World Superbikes but I've had an awesome time in MotoGP and long may it continue. Although it is a landmark race in my MotoGP career I'll just try and treat it like every other race and do the best possible job I can for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. The Aragón track has a really cool layout and I can't wait to get back there, even though my result wasn't the best last season. And I'm definitely keen to bounce back from Misano, which didn't end how I expected at all. I had a great weekend up until the race but the arm pump was the worst I've ever had. I've had a few days to rest and relax at home so I'm sure I'm going to be 100 per cent this weekend.”

Cal Crutchlow:

“I'm raring to start this weekend having spent a few days with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in France. It has been great spending some quality time with the crew while also training hard after a couple of really physically demanding races in Indianapolis and Misano. We've managed to pick up a couple of respectable results recently to restore my confidence, but as a rider you always want more, so the goal this weekend will be to qualify and finish the race inside the top 10. Aragón is another track I've only ever seen on TV and I can't wait to ride it. It looks like a lot of fun with some undulation and some fast, sweeping corners. I think it might suit my style because it doesn't look like a circuit with a lot of strong braking points. It is never easy trying to learn a new track, but the confidence gained in the last couple of races means we can start the weekend in a positive frame of mind.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 press release

Bradley Smith chooses Moto2 over MotoGP

Bradley Smith, in contention for the vacant Monster Yamaha Tech 3 seat alongside Cal Crutchlow in MotoGP next season, has decided to stay in the Moto2 class. 

"I've made a decision about next season," Smith wrote in his latest Crash.net column. 

"I've decided I will stay in the Moto2 World Championship and push really hard for the title next year. 

"I have some options to consider but hopefully will be able to reveal my plans by the time we race in the next round at Aragon in Spain."

Smith, a triple 125cc grand prix winner, has taken three podiums during his rookie Moto2 season with Tech 3. The 20-year-old is fifth in the championship with five rounds remaining.

"Racing against the top guys both at Indianapolis and Misano made me realise just how much I'm learning and there is still so much more to come," Smith continued.

"At my age another year will really benefit my career and so MotoGP can wait although of course it's my ultimate aim to ride in the greatest Championship in the world."

Andrea Dovizioso, Eugene Laverty, Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl are some of the other names linked with the Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP ride.

Edwards has announced that he will switch to the Forward Racing team, on a 'CRT' motorcycle, for 2012.

source: crash.net

Edwards 'complete nightmare', Crutchlow back in top ten

Starting seventh and 13th on the grid, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 riders Colin Edwards and Cal Crutchlow moved in opposite directions during Sunday's San Marino MotoGP.

Edwards, on form all weekend, battled with factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies for the first eight laps. But the Texan later experienced a severe arm pump issue and dropped all the way back to 13th.

“I've got no excuses, today's result was nothing to do with anything else but me," Edwards said. "I've no idea but for whatever reason, I just always ride so tense at this track. I kept telling myself that I needed to relax and calm down and then on the grid there's a few rain drops in the air, so that immediately means you can't help but be tense because you've no idea how hard it is coming down on other parts of the track. 

"I pushed as hard as I could for the first ten laps and was pretty close to Ben and then it hit me like a pile of bricks. I got such bad arm pump I couldn't feel the front brake or the handlebars and by the end I was just moving my arms in the direction I thought they needed to go. 

"I've never had arm pump that bad and to be honest I didn't realise you could get it that bad. It got to a point where almost pulled in. But I gritted my teeth and thought I could probably get a couple of points, which we did. But it was a complete nightmare and all I can do is put today behind and try and bounce at the Motorland Aragon in a couple of weeks."

By contrast, Crutchlow was pleased with his performance, which marked his fist top ten finish since Catalunya in early June.

The British rider put immense pressure on Alvaro Bautista for the opening 16-laps before taking ninth from Edwards on lap 21. 

The closing stages saw a close battle for ninth between Crutchlow and Hector Barbera, who clinched the position by just over 0.2sec.

"I am really pleased with the race and it is my first top 10 for a long time, so that is a good boost for my confidence," said Crutchlow. "Finishing 10th was three places better than my qualifying position, so it was a positive outcome. 

"It could have been a slightly better result but I just got pipped by Barbera right at the end. I did everything I could to get by him but I had a little issue with the rear tyre. Corner entry was really difficult at the end, so I didn't feel like I could really push and have a go to overtake him with any confidence. His bike had a little more speed than me, so I just couldn't get close enough to have a go. 

"My race pace was good enough for fifth in last year's race but this year it was good enough for 10th. It just shows how far the pace has moved on and how tough it is in MotoGP. It was an unbelievably hard race for the body too. 

"The humidity was incredible and I'm glad I do so many training miles on my bicycle because it was a real case of survival of the fittest out there. It was good that we gained a lot more experience and got another decent finish and now I can look forward to building on this result at the Motorland Aragon.”

source: Crash.net

Cal Crutchlow thwarted by qualifying crashes

Cal Crutchlow suffered two late crashes in today’s MotoGP qualifying session at the Misano circuit that cost him the chance of a top 10 place on the grid for the 28-lap race.

Crutchlow was sitting in eighth position on the timesheets when he went down at Turn 3 on a soft rear Bridgestone tyre that hadn’t reached optimum working temperature. The 25-year-old made it back to the pits to take out his spare Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine but pushing on his final lap he lost the front.

The double mistake left the 2009 World Supersport champion down in 13th place on the grid with a best time of 1.34.791 and he said: "The crashes were stupid on my part and both were my fault, but I was pushing and I can’t be blamed for trying too hard. The position on the timesheets looks like it was a bad session and it could definitely have ended a lot better without the two crashes. But this morning I was a second faster than yesterday and felt really comfortable on the bike after we made some overnight changes that improved the front.

"I think I was eighth on the timesheets when I had the first crash, so I know I could have been in the top 10 on the grid. The first crash was at Turn 3. I'd just gone out on my first soft rear and there wasn't enough heat in it, so it high-sided me and then turned into a low-side. It wasn't a big problem and we put a new soft rear tyre in the spare bike. But the only front I had left was 25-laps old. I was on for a really good lap and the front pushed because it had close to race distance on it and I crashed again. That's pretty annoying but they were both my mistakes and I hold my hands up for that. I'm still positive that I could have been much higher up on the grid and I am confident I can be inside the top 10 tomorrow."

source: MCN

Edwards takes a superb seventh in Misano qualifying

The 37-year-old missed a second row start by just 0.028s and will start round 13 of this year's World Championship from seventh position having once again finished top non-factory rider. Edwards was in stunning form earlier today when he ended practice in a confidence-inspiring fifth position, the Texan benefitting from geometry modifications to the front-end of his YZR-M1 machine to lap almost a second faster than he managed yesterday.

With a quarter of this afternoon's qualifying session remaining, Edwards jumped into the top five with a lap of 1.34.356. He was able to shave a further 0.3s and is now optimistic that he can battle for the top six in tomorrow's race as he looks to cement his position as the leading non-factory rider in the overall rankings.

British rider Cal Crutchlow had an eventful qualifying session, which took place in slightly cooler conditions than yesterday. Like his team-mate Edwards, Crutchlow was able to knock almost a second off his Friday pace to finish the morning practice session in ninth position thanks to wheelbase alterations to his YZR-M1 machine. Crutchlow was lapping inside the top 10 and looking to improve his pace of 1’34.791 when he suffered two late crashes. He tumbled out at Turn 3 on his first soft Bridgestone rear tyre and, having returned to the pits to jump on his spare Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team machine, he crashed again in the closing moments of the session while looking to better his 13th position. Both times he escaped injury and the spills haven't dented Crutchlow's confidence as the 25-year-old remains positive that he can compete for a top 10 result on the 2.626 miles circuit tomorrow.

Colin Edwards:

“I'm really happy with today and it was a shame all our hard work didn't quite get us on the second row. We knew what the problems were yesterday and we changed the geometry on the front-end to create some stability through the high-speed sections. Once again I got to say a big thanks to my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew because they rolled out an awesome bike for me. There's not much between fourth and seventh and to be just over a tenth behind Ben (Spies) on the factory Yamaha proves what a good job we've done. I'm now looking forward to the race tomorrow. I've got to be looking at the top six though it is not going to be easy at all when you look at the calibre of those guys in front of me and the bikes they are riding.”

Cal Crutchlow:

“The position on the timesheets looks like it was a bad session and it could definitely have ended a lot better- without the two crashes. But this morning, I was a second faster than yesterday and felt really comfortable on the bike after we made some overnight changes to improve the front. I think I was eighth on the timesheets when I had the first crash, so I know I could have been in the top 10 on the grid. The first crash, I'd just gone out on my first soft rear and there wasn't enough heat in it, so it high-sided me and then turned into a low-side. It wasn't a big problem and we put a new soft rear tyre in the spare bike. But the only front I had left was 25-laps old. I was on for a really good lap and the front pushed because it had close to race distance on it and I crashed again. That's pretty annoying but they were both my mistakes and I hold my hands up for that. I'm still positive that I can be inside the top 10 tomorrow. I need to apologise to my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew for giving them a bit of work, but it makes me more determined to give them a decent result tomorrow.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team press release

Edwards and Crutchlow seek improved pace in Misano

American Edwards set the tenth best time on the opening day of practice at a sun-kissed Misano circuit that witnessed temperatures soaring to a physically demanding 30 degrees in the afternoon. Working on improving high speed stability with his YZR-M1 machine, Edwards was able to knock almost three tenths off his best time in the opening session to finish with a 1'35.301. The 37 year old also dedicated a large portion of his 44 laps on track to evaluate the performance of Bridgestone's soft and hard compound rear tyre options to finish just over 0.3s away from the top six.

Crutchlow started well this morning and put his World Supersport and World Superbike knowledge of the 2.626 mile Misano track to good use to finish just over two tenths away from the top 10. Although he was able to lap over three tenths quicker in this afternoon's 45 minute session, the British rider wasn't rewarded for the improvement and he slipped down the order to 15th. Crutchlow is confident he can improve his pace tomorrow to challenge for a top 10 place on the grid, as he aims to focus on gaining more grip and confidence with Bridgestone's hard rear tyre.

Colin Edwards:

“Today was a solid day without being too spectacular. We rolled off the truck from Indy not terribly fast and it's always nice to come out of the blocks with a bit more speed than I did. My biggest problem today has been high speed stability - you can lose a lot of time in the three really fast right-handers here. The front end was also tucking quite a bit this afternoon, and at times the sensation was like I was riding on a flat tyre. We made some changes which we felt were going to make the bike better, but we just ran out of time, so we'll sit down tonight and look at some data and come up with a plan for tomorrow. I feel confident and reasonably comfortable and with a couple of changes to the bike for tomorrow I'm sure we can come out all guns blazing. We also need to find something to help me with the hard rear tyre. I'm lacking a bit of entry grip, so we'll work on that too. Initially it feels fantastic but the lap times were no better. We got some ideas to get more side and entry grip with the h ard tyre, so I'm sure we'll be much faster tomorrow.”

Cal Crutchlow:

“Today wasn't an easy start to the weekend but I don't think 15th place is a true reflection of our potential. I had a few issues with getting the hard rear tyre to work, so we'll need to have a look at a big improvement in that area for tomorrow. I ran the same soft tyre I'd used this morning in the second session and even with 36 laps on it, I went just as quick with that as what we did with a brand new hard tyre. Lorenzo is more than 1.5s quicker on the hard tyre and I can't get it to work, so we need to have a look at the setting and perhaps make the bike more similar to what we ran in Indianapolis. We'll have a look at the data tonight and see what we can work out for tomorrow. I'm trying my hardest and I don't think I'm that far away because 0.5s would put me eighth.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team press release

Edwards and Crutchlow full of confidence

Edwards raced to a superb seventh place finish in front of his home crowd on Sunday to move into eighth place in the World Championship standings and further strengthenhis bid to finish top non-factory rider this year. Edwards has a good record at the 2.626 mile circuit, with three top 10 finishes in four attempts and is optimistic that he can continue in form in Sunday's race. Edwards will be seeking his eighth consecutive top 10 finish of the campaign at the San Marino circuit, which is hosting a MotoGP race for the fifth time having returned to the calendar in 2007.

Crutchlow's debut at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway proved to be a morale-boosting exercise, the British rider succeeding in his quest to end a disappointing string of results with a gutsy ride to 11th. The 25-year-old is now looking to build on the renewed confidence at a circuit where he has winning pedigree. Crutchlow was victorious in the 2009 World Supersport round at Misano and he was just one second away from claiming a stunning podium in the second World Superbike race last year.

This weekend's race on the Adriatic coast is the start of the final third of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team looking forwar d to forthcoming flyaway trips to Japan, Australia and Malaysia before the season closes in Valencia in early November.

Colin Edwards:

"Misano was the first track I ever went to with the Yamaha World Superbike Team way back in 1995, so the circuit has always been a very special place to me with a lot of fond memories. I've spent a lot of time in that area around Riccione and the beach when I lived there with my family back in 2004, so Misano is always one of the races I'm most excited about going to. The fans are really passionate and they love MotoGP, so there is always a special buzz around the place. Last weekend in Indianapolis was a tough race, so to take seventh was still a positive result. You always want more but I know the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is getting the maximum out of the package we have. It was obvious in Indianapolis th at we lack a bit of engine performance, but I still beat a lot of guys on factory equipment, so that proves what a good job we are doing. The goal this weekend will be the same as always and that's to qualify on the second row and finish in the top six. We nearly managed both in Indy, so I'm determined to make sure it will be mission accomplished in Misano."

Cal Crutchlow:

“After the positive result in Indianapolis I'm really looking forward to Misano now. The first objective in Indianapolis was to finish the race and learn more about the bike, and we accomplished that. That's given my confidence a lift and it wasn't only good for my morale but it was also good for the morale of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team, who have supported me fantastically. Of course we want to be finishing higher, but I was happy with my pace in Indianapolis. I was lapping at the same pace that Dani Pedrosa did on his way to winning the race in 2010, but that shows just how fast the guys are going this year. It is a challenge but one that I am up for and the target this weekend will be to try and get back into the top 10. At least I don't have to worry about learning the track at Misano and that is a massive bonus before you even start. I just want to get another good result this weekend for all the hard work my crew have been putting in to make it work out for me. I'm sure we can build on last weekend's result and have another strong ride in Misano.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team press release

Laverty: Tech 3 my top choice for MotoGP

Eugene Laverty says he is actively pursuing a switch to the MotoGP World Championship in 2012 following the announcement that his Yamaha World Superbike team is withdrawing at the end of the season.

The Irishman, currently fourth in the WSBK standings, had plotted an assault on the WSBK title with Yamaha next season having already won two races in his rookie campaign, but the confirmation that the manufacturer won't continue in 2012 has scuppered those plans.

With uncertainty over whether Yamaha will have a presence at all next year, Laverty is considering following in the footsteps of predecessor Cal Crutchlow and making the switch to MotoGP, possibly also with Tech 3 Yamaha.

Indeed, Laverty – who raced in the 250GP paddock in 2007 and 2008 - feels MotoGP's imminent switch to 1000cc makes this the ideal opportunity for him to move.

“Upon receiving the news I thought it a good idea to travel to Brno to visit the MotoGP paddock,” Laverty wrote on his personal blog at eugenelaverty.com. “I've been in talks with Herve Poncharal and I've made no secret of the fact that this would be my number one choice for next year if the opportunity arises.

“Tech 3 Yamaha are in my opinion head and shoulders above the rest of the privateer teams and on top of that I feel really at home within the Yamaha family. With MotoGP switching to 1000cc next year it would be the perfect time to make the jump to the top class.

“For now though my focus is on the final four races of the World Superbike Championship and I haven't given up on 3rd in the championship just yet. We'll need eight strong finishes to have any chance of chasing down Max or Marco so I'll see what I can do.”

Laverty is believed to be one of a few riders in contention for a Tech 3 Yamaha ride, though it hasn't been confirmed whether Colin Edwards – who is out of contract at the end of the season – will even be dropped for 2012. The likes of Randy de Puniet and Bradley Smith have also been linked with the ride.

source: crash

Tech3 jumps in with Suter and FTR

Colin Edwards remains tight lipped about his future in MotoGP, but nevertheless some small hints were dropped during the Indy GP weekend.

Speaking about Yamaha, with whom he first raced as an adolescent in motocross, the Texan said, "We are talking and I can almost say that I'll be back in MotoGP with them next year."

By "with" Yamaha, he is likely referring to the Team Forward Moto1, which is set to be powered by an R1 based engine. The latest talk, however, suggests that the chassis will actually be built by Team Tech3, who are currently doing this in Moto2 with Bradley Smith. The technical director - not crew cheif - would likely be Guy Coulon.

And so the "old" guard of MotoGP team members are being shown the door, only to come right back in through the side window with Moto1. The same thing could happen at Team Gresini, with Cecchini supervising the Moto1 project which, at HRC's insistence, would instead use Honda engine.

R1-engined CRT bike for Edwards?

HINTS from Colin Edwards have the current Tech 3 rider in with a move to one of the new Claiming Rule Teams in 2012 instead of World Superbikes.

The Texan was in talks with a move back to the World Superbike championship, perhaps joining the factory BMW team.

But the production-based series is looking less tempting for the former champion, as he recently referred to WSB as a 'ghost-town' in an interview with GPWeek - regarding Yamaha's decision to pull out of the series and the fate of Aprilia questionable.

Reports coming away from Indy have Edwards linked to a Claiming Rule Team; in particular Forward Racing - the Moto2 team given one of the grid slots for 2012 - and their proposed choice of the BMW-engined Suter chassis.

However, developments now see a continuation of the American's relationship with Yamaha and the YZF-R1 engine used in a prototype CRT chassis, calling the powerplant his 'weapon of choice' and further speculation suggests that the frame could be built by Tech 3 and Guy Coulon - the creator of the Mistral that Bradley Smith rides in Moto2.

Discussing these new machines with Asphalt & Rubber, Edwards acknowledged that the alternative 1000s will be at a disadvantage at certain circuits, mainly places ilke Mugello and Catalunya where speed rules, but noted tracks like Laguna, Sachsenring and Assen as possibilites where the gap to the factory bikes will be closer, he said: "We’re already clipping so much power it’s just ridiculous, and we’re only on 800s. So, there’ll be tracks where, is it going to compete for a win? Maybe not. But I think there’ll be tracks where it’s going to surprise some people."

source: visordown

Consistent Edwards delivers another top ten in Indianapolis

The Texan made a fast start from the second row of the grid, but as the pack jostled for position in the tight first section of the 2.62 miles track, Edwards was bumped back to eighth. He was involved in an exciting early battle with factory riders Alvaro Bautista, Ben Spies and Valentino Rossi before the field began to stretch out at the halfway stage of the 28-lap encounter. With temperatures reaching close to 30C degrees, Edwards was left in a personal duel with Spaniard Bautista until lap 23, when a big front end slide cost him crucial time. With his front tyre starting to progressively push, Edwards decided to slow down his pace to secure a deserved seventh place, which moves him into eighth place in the World Championship standings ahead of Marco Simoncelli on 84 points.

Cal Crutchlow's reward for a weekend in which he worked tirelessly to improve the front end feeling with his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine was his best finish since the Catalunya race in early June. He maintained a consistent pace throughout the race having led Loris Capirossi, Toni Elias, Randy de Puniet and Hiroshi Aoyama in a frantic opening few laps. And a series of strong laps in the final stages saw him snatch 11th from Marco Simoncelli on the final lap to end his recent run of disappointing results.

Colin Edwards:

“I thought I got a fantastic start but the problem is the Yamaha is lacking a bit of grunt. I needed Fred Flinstone behind giving me a push to go faster, so I had a few people come by me on the run to the first corner. The first few laps I felt I could go faster but with Bautista sitting in front of me, I'd get close and then coming out of the corner he would just grab a few metres on me. In the twisty stuff at the end of the lap I was gaining it all back and at the last corner I almost ran into him. But by the time we got to the first corner he'd pull a few bike lengths on me again. I really wanted to beat Bautista but he started to ride really well in the second half of the race. I was on his back wheel and looking for an opportunity to make an overtake but I lost the front at the end of the back straight and that was a warning just to back off and take seventh. The front tyre lost a fair bit of grip in the last few laps though I wasn't the only one to have a problem. But I was top non-factory rider, I got another top ten and I moved up another place in the Championship, so it wasn't a bad afternoon's work. We go to Misano now and see if we can fight for the top six."

Cal Crutchlow:

“Firstly I want to say a big thanks to all my guys in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. They never gave up all weekend, even when we were struggling a little bit and it might sound silly but I don't think any of us in the garage have ever been so pleased to get an 11th place. After the bad recent run it was important to finish the race and I did that. The result wasn't the best but my speed at the end of the race was really good and I'm happy about that, so there are a lot of positives to take to Misano. At the end of the race I was lapping faster than Jorge Lorenzo. I was a long way behind him but that still gives me a lot of encouragement. Like a lot of people I had a few issues with the front tyre and in the early part of the race it wasn't easy but I never gave up and pushed right to the end. This result at least gives us something to build on for the next races, starting at Misano, which is a track that at least I don't have to learn. I've needed to finish races to gain some experience and I'm glad we did because I learned a lot this afternoon and gave the Team a lot of good feedback to hopefully improve the bike in Misano.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team press release

Edwards primed for top six challenge in Indianapolis

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider was able to transfer his good practice form into the 60 minute qualifying session and he will start tomorrow's race from sixth on the grid. Throughout the three practice sessions, Edwards was consistently running inside the top six and a fastest lap of 1’40.098 in a sun drenched qualifying session saw him finish just over 0.1s away from claiming fourth spot on the grid.

With the new infield paving offering improved levels of grip with more rubber laid down on the track, Edwards was able to lap 1.2s faster than his best time in qualifying at last year's race. The Texan is optimistic that he can battle for a third top six result of the 2011 season to strengthen his bid to finish the campaign as the leading non-factory rider.

British rider Cal Crutchlow had a frustrating end to an otherwise encouraging qualifying session and he will start the from 11th position on the grid. The 25-year-old has dedicated the majority of his time this weekend to make progress in finding a comfortable front-end setting with his YZR-M1. His commitment and determination looked like being rewarded with a top 10 place on the grid, but as he pushed to improve his best lap time of 1’40.620, Crutchlow was held up by another rider and had to quickly take evasive action to avoid a collision, running into the gravel, preventing him from making any further improvement to his lap time.

Colin Edwards:

“The weekend has been great so far and now I'm really looking forward to the race tomorrow. I haven't been out of the top six in every session and everything has been working fantastic. I feel great on the bike, my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team have been working tirelessly again to give me a competitive package, and I'm sure a realistic goal is to finish in the top six. That would be a great result and I'm hoping to put on a good show for the Indy crowd tomorrow. The new pavement was a million times better today. Yesterday it was greasy and I was sliding around all over the place, but to finish third in that first practice session gave me a lot of confidence immediately and we have just built on that. The bike has felt the best it has for a few races and now I'm excited for the race. I need a good start but I'll be looking to have a good fight with Dovizioso and Simoncelli. In this heat it is going to be a long and tough race, but I'll be giving it my all for the American fans.”

Cal Crutchlow:

“I'm pretty disappointed…I had to swerve really quick to avoid hitting a rider and that is disappointing. I'm not saying I was going to jump into the top five, but I'm sure without that I might have qualified inside the top ten. That would have been a good result because I'm struggling with the front end again. I keep losing the front and it is proving quite difficult at the moment to find an improvement. I'm working really hard, and so are my guys, to find a solution. But we haven't quite made me as comfortable on the bike as I'd like. My pace is still not that bad and I'm sure I can be fighting in a group with Nicky and Alvaro tomorrow. If I can get a good start, I'm hopeful I can stay with them and have a good scrap.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team press release

Edwards not planning to retire

Colin Edwards insists he has no plans to retire at the end of the 2011 MotoGP season.

The 37-year-old Texan is ninth in the world championship and the leading non-factory bike rider heading into this weekend's Indianapolis round - but, unlike team-mate Cal Crutchlow, is out of contract at the end of this year.

Rising stars such as Eugene Laverty, Bradley Smith and Stefan Bradl have all been linked to the second Monster Yamaha Tech 3 seat.

Speaking during a media teleconference in the build-up to this weekend's Indy round, Edwards appeared to confirm both his intention to race on - and that Yamaha wants him to stop:

"Probably the worst thing is that I'm not ready to retire. That would make it easy for everybody," he said. "But at the moment, I'm still enjoying it. I'm still having a good time, and I'm still motivated. Until that goes away, I'm going to ride motorcycles."

Despite Yamaha's apparent lack of enthusiasm, the switch to 1000cc engines for 2012 should mean Edwards' development skills are in demand somewhere on the grid. 

That is especially true for the new class of 'Claiming Rule Teams' although it remains to be seen if Edwards would really want to take a risk with one of the newcomers. 

Edwards finished on the podium at Silverstone - just one week after breaking his collarbone - and was denied a rostrum at round two (Jerez) by a technical failure on the final lap.

Legendary Indianapolis challenge awaits Edwards and Crutchlow

Edwards is looking forward to racing in front of his home fans for the second time in just over a month, the Indianapolis round coming hot on the heels of his recent eighth place finish in the US Grand Prix at the Laguna Seca track in California. The Texan is particularly looking forward to checking out the infield section of the 2.620 miles circuit, which has been completely resurfaced in readiness for round 12 of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship.

The 37-year-old will arrive in Indianapolis confident he can consolidate his position inside the top 10 in the World Championship rankings while also strengthening his bid to finish leading non-factory rider this season. He is currently on an impressive run of six consecutive top 10 finishes to sit ninth in the rankings ahead of this Sunday's 28-lap race.

This weekend's race presents Crutchlow with another difficult but intriguing learning experience. The British rider has never seen the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is steeped in motorsport history and world famous for hosting the Indy 500, but he is looking forward to getting to work with his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew after a positive test session at the Brno circuit recently.

Crutchlow made improvements to the front-end feeling of his Yamaha YZR-M1 machine and he is determined to end a frustrating run of results in Indianapolis to get his bid for the prestigious Rookie of the Year crown back on track.

Colin Edwards:

“Racing at home in America for the second time in a few weeks is awesome and I'm really looking forward to this weekend. The build-up to the Indianapolis race is always pretty special because you've got the mystique and the history of the place and I really like that part of it. The people at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have done a fantastic job to make MotoGP a success and hopefully the fans will get to see an exciting show this weekend. The track isn't too technical or demanding but I'm looking forward to riding on the new pavement on the infield. We all know it was pretty bumpy in parts but they've taken our feedback on board and done something to improve it, which is brilliant. I'm on a consistent run of results at the moment and hopefully that will continue this weekend. I'd like to be a further up the order and pushing inside the top six a little more, but the guys in front of me every week are all on factory bikes, so I think all of us inside the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team are giving the maximum to do the best job we can.”

Cal Crutchlow:

"I am really looking forward to going to Indy because I've heard so much about what a fantastic facility the Motor Speedway is. But without any previous experience of riding there, I'm anticipating another difficult challenge. It is one I am relishing though because I'm determined to end this difficult period in the Championship. I haven't scored enough points in the last few races, so I'm looking forward to learning Indy but also getting a good result there too. The Yamaha is a good bike, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is brilliant, and I believe in my own ability, so we've got to put all the ingredients together to deliver the performances we know we are capable of. The test after the Brno race was really beneficial because we could work on the bike a lot and I could focus on adapting my style a lot more. We've got some more ideas to help us in the future, so hopefully a good result this weekend will help set me up for a strong finish to the season.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 press release

Crutchlow 'relishing' Indy debut

MotoGP rookie Cal Crutchlow is hoping that the famous, but unfamiliar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be the scene of a turnaround in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider's fortunes.

The Englishman's debut grand prix season, which began promisingly, is in danger of stagnation after just four points in the last five rounds, since his collarbone-breaking accident at Silverstone.

A rare test session after the recent Brno round gave Crutchlow the chance for much needed track time outside of a grand prix weekend and he approaches round twelve in an optimistic mood.

"I am really looking forward to going to Indy because I've heard so much about what a fantastic facility the Motor Speedway is," he began. "But without any previous experience of riding there, I'm anticipating another difficult challenge. 

"It is one I am relishing though because I'm determined to end this difficult period in the Championship. I haven't scored enough points in the last few races, so I'm looking forward to learning Indy but also getting a good result there too. 

"The Yamaha is a good bike, the Tech 3 Team is brilliant, and I believe in my own ability, so we've got to put all the ingredients together to deliver the performances we know we are capable of. 

"The test after the Brno race was really beneficial because we could work on the bike a lot and I could focus on adapting my style a lot more. We've got some more ideas to help us in the future, so hopefully a good result this weekend will help set me up for a strong finish to the season.”

Edwards previews repaved Indy

What's your reaction to the repaving of the infield portion of the road course for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP?

I think it's fantastic. We had a couple of issues there in the past with some different pavements and a couple of big spots here and there. To know that IMS is making the effort to repave it, that says a lot. I'm excited to get there and try it out.

The track now has a consistent surface all the way around the entire distance of the racetrack. In your opinion, was the repave necessary?

That's a tricky question. We all have to race on the same thing. So I don't think it's, let's say, unfair for all of us to go out there on whatever the pavement is. Is it going to be nicer? Hell, yeah. Of course. Is it going to be more of a pleasure to go race there? Of course. Setup is going to be a heck of a lot easier. You're not going to have to set up for a few of the fast corners and then just survive the rest of the track. You can pretty much set up for the whole track once you repave it. That's one good advantage to it.

How you're going to approach the weekend considering you guys don't get to test there?

The way it used to be, you had so many different pavements. You had a couple of big bumps here and there. Maybe you had to set the bike up for one part of the track or the other part of the track. I think basically repaving, besides the fact that it's just going to be fantastic to ride and a brand-new paved track, but you're going to be able to set the bike up more for the entire track. That's going to be the biggest improvement for us. We're not going to have to fight a couple of corners just so we can set it up for over here. We'll be able to set it up for the whole thing.

Is early, committed application of the throttle critical to getting heat into the Bridgestones?

That's a very analytical point of view that you have there. It's so hard to go out there and commit to something that you have no feeling of. You've got to trust your electronics, and you've got to trust pretty much what the bike is telling you. I'm probably one of the slowest and always have been one of the slowest guys out of the pits on Bridgestones. I like to work my way over on the side, and once I can get there, you can pretty much hammer it out. That's the key. Not getting, as I did in Barcelona, if you get crossed up going in, that's when you're going to get hurt. But once you start coming out, if you can bend it over and build up some heat, than that's definitely the way to do it. Even Valentino had his problems last year with the cold tire. But he's still one of the fastest guys out of the pit, and it makes me nervous just to watch. He goes into Turn 1 and Turn 2 and flicks it on the side, and I just sit there and I'm like, "Oooh, God." I don't know. It just doesn't look safe. I know the tires. But once they get heated up, they're fantastic. It's just that first couple of lefts and couple rights that are a little bit timid.

What does it take to do a fast lap at Indianapolis?

I think just about anywhere, you've got to take your brain out and hold on to your balls and just pin it. Not necessarily just at Indy. Indy is pretty special with Turn 1 coming in there. Late, deep braking into there, carrying your momentum around to Turn 2. That's a place where you can gain a couple of tenths pretty easy if you hit it just perfect. The same with the back, the last four or five corners. You can gain a lot of time there, as well. There are a couple of tricky sections on that track, but as long as you link it all together, that's like any racetrack: That's the key to getting a good lap time.

source: motogp official website

Tech 3 Yamaha keen on Eugene Laverty

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal has confirmed he is interested in signing Eugene Laverty for the 2012 MotoGP world championship.

Laverty travelled to Brno last week for talks with the French team owner after he was left without a ride next year following Yamaha’s bombshell decision to axe its factory World Superbike squad.

Laverty spoke to Poncharal last year about a possible Moto2 ride for Tech 3, but the Irish racer is now concentrating on joining Cal Crutchlow in MotoGP next season.

Laverty is one of several names being linked with the Tech 3 rider including current rider Colin Edwards, Andrea Iannone and Briton Bradley Smith.

Poncharal told MCN: "Eugene visited us in Brno and he has a strong interest. I spoke with him last year for Moto2 but he is a strong candidate. He is young and fast and he’s a Yamaha rider at the moment, so that’s also a possibility."

Laverty, who raced in the 250GP world championship in 2007 and ’08, said he wasn’t expecting any news on the Tech 3 talks until around the Misano race early next month.

He told MCN: "There’s nothing happening any time soon and it really is a waiting game. I wasn’t looking in MotoGP two weeks ago, so that’s all changed and we need to see what the powers that be want. It’s Herve’s decision and his team, so he makes the final choice on the rider and we will see how that develops."

For more on Laverty talking about the Tech 3 talks, see today’s issue of Motor Cycle News.

'Sorry' Crutchlow vows to 'get his mojo back'

An apologetic Cal Crutchlow has admitted that he needs to rediscover his 'mojo' next time out in MotoGP 2011 at Indianapolis, assuring that 'I am trying' and 'that's all I can do' – but equally accepting that the current situation 'needs to change'.

Following a bright start to his rookie campaign in the premier class – with scintillating single-lap pace complemented by punchy and impressive race day performances – World Superbike Championship graduate Crutchlow has gone off the boil in recent outings, and has in truth struggled to regain his early momentum ever since his Silverstone collarbone-breaking fall in early June.

Following his crash at Laguna Seca last month, Yamaha Tech 3 team manager Hervé Poncharal mused that the British star's accident was 'very disappointing' and 'a big pity', depriving him of 'a lot of potential data that would have been very useful for next year'. 

The Frenchman's patience is ostensibly beginning to wear a little thin, and not only did Crutchlow bite the dust again at Brno last weekend only seven laps in, but Moto2 ace Bradley Smith is now being linked with MotoGP graduation with Tech 3 in 2012 – and it is unclear at present who he would most likely replace.

Having tallied 30 of his 34 points thus far during the opening five rounds of the campaign, Crutchlow presently languishes just 15th in the championship standings – twelve points adrift of fellow rookie Karel Abraham. Following his early bath in the Czech Republic, the 25-year-old tweeted that it 'seems like this is a typical day for me' and that 'it needs to change', adding: “I'm sorry to everyone putting in so much time and effort...I am trying, that's all I can do. I hope from here onwards and upwards.”

He later added, 'funny moment of day...sitting in garage watchin boys build yet another bike for me & the song by U2 came on #istillhaventfoundwhatimlookingfor' – but the two-day post-race Brno test session has seemingly been a timely morale-booster as he headed 'in the right direction', albeit acknowledging that 'I've got to improve myself and adapt my style more' [see separate story – click here]. He is, he reflects, heading back home in more optimistic spirits.

“Today was a miracle – managed to do 76 laps around a circuit of 2mins a lap and not crash!” Crutchlow quipped on Twitter. “Seriously though, better day testing today. Hope to be able to move forward from now on. Seemed to have found a few things & i now just hope they work. Leavin Brno [a] little happier. We worked hard & tested all day. Now time to repair myself for Indy & try get my mojo back...”

Bradley Smith to MotoGP in 2012?

Moto2 rookie Bradley Smith has impressed Tech 3 so much that they are considering him for a place in their Monster Yamaha MotoGP team next season!

Smith, a former 125cc world championship runner-up, has taken three podiums and one front row start during his first ten races on Tech 3's Moto2 machine.

The 20-year-old, who was as high as third in the championship, has slipped to seventh after DNFs in the last two races - but is still a massive 71 points ahead of team-mate and former 125cc world champion Mike di Meglio, riding in his second Moto2 season.

"I'm being considered by Tech 3 to join their MotoGP team next season," Smith wrote in his latest column for Crash.net. 

"Nothing will be finalised at least until after the race in Misano in three weeks' time. I have a lot of thinking to do and decisions to be make.

"I'm 20 years old and to be even considered for the elite class is a great honour. I also have to consider staying in Moto2 for another year and fighting for the Championship."

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 currently runs American Colin Edwards and Briton Cal Crutchlow in MotoGP. 

Veteran Edwards is out of contract at the end of this year, but took a podium finish at Silverstone and is the top satellite-bike rider in the championship (ninth).

Rookie Crutchlow has a two-year deal, but a strong start to his grand prix career was interrupted by injury at Silverstone and a spate of crashes since has resulted in some public criticism from Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal.

Yamaha's 2011 WSBK race winner Eugene Laverty and Moto2 title leader Stefan Bradl have also been linked to a Tech 3 MotoGP ride. 

2012 will be the first year of the 1000cc engine rules and the new Yamaha made a very strong debut in the hands of Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies during testing at Brno on Monday.

source: crash.net

Edwards and Crutchlow conclude Brno with productive Test day

After he finished in a hard fought eighth position in Sunday's Czech Republic MotoGP race, Texan Edwards had a busy day evaluating updates for Yamaha and Bridgestone.

Bridgestone tapped into all of Edwards' vast experience, the 37 year old putting in development laps on a new front tire and two new rear tire compounds that Bridgestone plan to make available in 2012 for the new 1000cc MotoGP class. Edwards also worked his way through a range of different electronics settings to supply Yamaha technicians with a wealth of precise feedback for the future. Despite being in testing mode, Edwards set a best time of 1’58.412 in his 44 lap stint, which was quicker than his best lap time in yesterday's 22 lap race.

With eight hours of track time available and conditions for most of the day bright and warm, Crutchlow dedicated his efforts on improving the set up of his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team YZR-M1 machine. The prime focus was improving Crutchlow's front-end confidence after the 25 year old has recently experienced a difficult period in his rookie campaign.

Without the time constraints of a Grand Prix weekend, Crutchlow also concentrated on further adapting his riding style to suit the 800cc YZR-M1 machine. He was able to focus on improving his braking technique, and the British rider was satisfied with his progress after completing 74 laps before heavy rain started to fall with 30 minutes of the session remaining. His best time of 1’57.591 was over 0.2s faster than his qualifying time.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is now preparing for another trip across the Atlantic Ocean for the Indianapolis round on August 28.

Colin Edwards:

“Today was just about getting some information for Bridgestone and Yamaha. The new tires I tested seemed to be a good step in the right direction, so they've got a lot of information and feedback to analyze and digest now. I'm happy with the direction Bridgestone is going with the rear tire. I tried two today, and both give you a lot more security. There's not so much risk involved in the first couple of laps, so credit to Bridgestone because they have listened to our comments this season and taken action to improve the tires and I'm really pleased. I also ran some new electronics for Yamaha and there were a couple of interesting options. I'm looking forward to going home now and relaxing ahead of another important race in Indianapolis. To have two home races in such a short space of time is awesome, so I'm looking forward to putting on a good show for the American fans.”

Cal Crutchlow:

“This morning we didn't change the bike and I just went out and did some laps and I was doing low 58s on old tires, so that makes me feel even more disappointed with the crash in the race yesterday because that pace would have put me on for a good result. The front-end could still be better but we've definitely been working in the right direction and we're trying to figure out how we can make more improvements. But this process isn't just about working on making the bike better. I know I've got to improve myself and adapt my style more and I've worked on that a lot today. At the moment some laps I'm braking much better and how I should be and others I go back to my normal style, but that is all part of the learning process and why this test has been so valuable. I still need to release the brake earlier to help me carry more corner speed, so I'll be working on improving more in that area in the future. My crew have worked really hard today after a long weekend, so credit to them for that. It was a good day and I can take some confidence to Indianapolis now.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team press release