Yamaha needs more rear grip, says Colin Edwards

Colin Edwards reckons Yamaha’s YZR-M1 machine needs more rear traction than the horsepower boost that reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo is repeatedly asking the Japanese factory for.

The experienced Texan spent most of the one-day test session at Estoril earlier this week working on various rear suspension and linkage combinations to try and improve rear traction with his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine.

The 37-year-old, who claimed his first top six finish of the season in Portugal last weekend, told MCN: “We need to figure out some traction issues. We’ve played around with the front with this new chassis to get it comfortable but looking at our problems, we need to get some more traction.”

“In the race, when I open the throttle and the traction control was kicking in and it was spinning everywhere, it’s a helpless feeling.  I felt like we had pace and I like Estoril but I just struggled to get off the corners.”

“Yamaha’s chassis has been good throughout history, so I think traction right now is the main thing. We got rid of all the front issues from last year with this new chassis, the front feels great, but we need more traction. I’m running a little different set-up to Jorge with different chain force, but we still have the same issue.”