Italian MotoGP : Colin Edwards happy with mugello fifth

Colin Edwards reckons his fifth place in today’s Italian GP in Mugello was a better result than his first podium of 2008 in Le Mans last month.The Tech 3 rider surged through from ninth to fifth to beat British team-mate James Toseland as he consolidated fifth position in the rider standings.

Edwards, who has had a torrid time in Mugello in previous years with a best finish of only ninth, said: “I didn’t get a great start but it wasn’t that bad but before I knew it I’d lost a couple of places. I didn’t have the grip in the first two laps that some of the other guys did, so I couldn’t stay with them off the corner.

“Once my tyres started to come in I really started to feel good, but I had to adjust my riding style with the temperature being so much higher than yesterday. The rear was coming round a bit on the entry of the corner and I started braking a lot harder, carrying less corner speed to try and conserve the tyre by picking the bike up and accelerating.

“It worked and I’ve got to say I’m happy with fifth. I’m happier with fifth here than I was with third in Le Mans to be honest. I expected to win at Le Mans, but my best result here has been a ninth. I’m not a guy that likes fifth, but on my biggest bogey track ever I’ll take it.

“We just had to run a tyre that we thought would have good endurance because in a situation where there’s hardly been any dry track time, you have to play safe. Nobody had done any endurance testing on tyres and I think the tyre I raced on I’d done about two laps on before the race! I have to say a big thanks to Michelin because they did a great job.

“We had no idea what the tyre would be like after 20 laps but to come from where I did showed we made a good choice. Tyre choice is critical at any track but here even more so because it is such an abrasive surface. It will destroy tyres if you are just a little bit off, so credit to Michelin.

“I had a good battle with James and its great to see him back in the top six. There were a couple of places like the two Arrabbiata corners where he could pull away. I felt like I could control him if I could pass him, and the key was getting by and being able to pull a gap so he couldn’t slipstream back by me.”