Brno MotoGP: Medicine mistake fails to slow Colin Edwards

British GP runner-up Colin Edwards failed to let illness cost him the chance of equalling his best qualifying result of the season in Brno today.

The Texan was left struggling well below 100 per cent today after he was treated for a swollen neck gland ahead of this morning’s second practice session.

The double World Superbike champion bounced back to claim fifth place on the grid with a best time of 1.56.954.

That left the 35-year-old less than 0.5s off his first front row start of the campaign and he said: “ I’m pretty happy considering how I felt today.

The last couple of days, one of the glands in my neck was pretty badly swollen up, so I was given some medicine to help it. But the doctor told me to make sure I had a full stomach when I took it.

“But this morning I only had a bowl of cereal and then I took the medicine. And after that I felt awful. After practice this morning I was white as a sheet and not feeling great at all.

“My stomach and head was feeling pretty rough and I just felt way short of my best for the rest of the day. So considering that I’m happy to have qualified fifth.

“I’d say Dani Pedrosa’s time was reachable in third but it would have taken a great lap to do that, and I’m not sure I had it in me physically today.

“I’ve been going great all weekend and my team have done a phenomenal job.

“We put some more weight on the front that has really helped get the bike to turn and that’s crucial at this track.

 

“I’ve never had a top six at this track but hopefully I’ll change that tomorrow and hopefully I’ll be feeling better.”