Jerez test: Colin Edwards boosted by Bridgestone debut

Colin Edwards’ impressive Bridgestone debut left the American exuding confidence for 2009 at the end of the final winter test in Jerez.

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider clocked a best time of 1.40.604 that had put him in the top four before he was dropped to eighth in the final hour.

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His best time was 0.1s faster than his best Spanish GP time on Michelin rubber, and the double World Superbike champion told MCN: “It has been a really good test and honestly it was more than I expected.

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“I seemed to adapt well and pretty quick to the Bridgestone’s and I know leaving here there is so much more potential. And that’s got to come from me in learning how hard you can push the tyres because the front is awesome.

“With tyres its all about translating feeling from your ass to your brain and your brain to your hand and I got a really good feeling. They have got a really nice product and I’m so happy to be getting on with it so good and so soon.”

Edwards said he was most impressed with the performance of the Bridgestone front tyre, which in the past he had hailed as ‘gold.’

“Braking and corner entry is incredible and you really don’t have to worry about the rear. You just basically point the front where you want it go and it turns and keeps on turning. You were always a little bit hesitant with the Michelin front in trying to get it into the corner without the rear coming round on you.

“With Bridgestone you can just hammer it into the corner. You need to throw it in hard to get load on it and the Bridgestone loves that. I can only improve. I think there are four or five tenths out there just in me, because I’m still trying to push to the limit of the tyres, “ added Edwards, who was 1.175s slower than fellow Yamaha rider and fastest man Valentino Rossi.