Edwards

[Pittenger5]

How come Colin never gets any of the attention that the other guys do? Is he among the most underrated in the paddock? He finished at worst 6th in the championship this year (so as to not spoil the race). Finished 7th in 2008, 9th in 2007, 7th in 2006, 4th in 2005. Yet hes never really talked about among the top riders. Is he ever goign to WIN a championship? I dont think so, but hes always solidly among the better riders.

[Degsy]

He has won a championship.

[Pittenger5]

He has won a championship.

Premier class?

[Degsy]

sorry, I was thinking KRJR for motogp.

didn't edwards win a sbk championship?

[Pittenger5]

SBK

Yah, no one knows who won the minor league world series either.

[Degsy]

2000 and 2002 World Superbike.

[Paul_E_D]

5th does not really get you top rider status. You're too soft Richie. Racing is about winning, not coming close.

[Pittenger5]

5th does not really get you top rider status. You're too soft Richie. Racing is about winning, not coming close.

So theres 3 riders that are top riders in the MotoGP paddock currently? Funny, I hear more about Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Dovi than just about anyone.

[DuncanMoto]

I think it's more about where the sponsor money is that influences who the commentators and journalists talk about more.

[Paul_E_D]

Lorenzo and pedrosa win races. Dovi is a young factory rider. Get over it. Colin is good, but 2nd tier.

[Pittenger5]

I dont really care who they talk about, but I think 5th is solid results, just wondering why hes never even in the conversation.
Just trying to stimulate a little discussion here goddammit!

[BMFR6]

he's the best of the mortals.

[nmendell]

Lorenzo and pedrosa win races. Dovi is a young factory rider. Get over it. Colin is good, but 2nd tier.

Also, you could say there are many more interesting stories at this point. He's not likely to win a race (Rossi, Lorenzo, Stoner), he isn't recovering from a mystery illness (Stoner), he isn't oddly disappointing (Toseland, Vermuelen), he's not likely to have some vicious high-side (dePuniet) or take three people out in Turn 1 (deAngelis), he's not new (Dovizioso, Spies, Simoncelli, Talmasci, Espargaro), or doing a lot better than last year (Melandri), or struggling with a bike that wins all the time when someone else rides it (Hayden). After everyone talks about those stories, Edwards is still doing what he's done most every race for years.

[tls25rs]

Richie,

Colin seems to be among the best of the rest when it comes to MotoGP and gets air time accordingly.

The press/commentators refer to Rossi, Stoner, Lorezo and Pedrosa as the "Aliens", the only riders capable of running the pace they are at, and then everyone else falls into place.

Hayden gets press because he is a former world champ on a "Factory" bike and not performing as well as some believe he should, though he's made great strides recenetly in his performance.

Dovisioso gets mentioned because he is Pedrosa's teammate on the "Factory" bike and isn't doing as well as some believe he should.

The Suzuki "Factory" guys get very little air time because the Suzukis are thought of as second rate bikes.

Melandri got some press this year because he took a bike that was not receiving any "Factory" support and made some pretty good runs, finishing much higher than anyone expected of him on that bike.

After the four manufacturers "Factory" teams you get into the satellite teams which is where Edwards gets his press/TV time in equal parts with the rest of the satellite guys. You don't hear a whole lot about the Pramac Ducati, Gresini Honda or the Tech 3 Yamaha guys unless they are beating a "Factory" rider on the same bike in a given race.

That might all change next year with the 250 guy with the big hair, can't remember his name, coming in to ride the Gresini Honda and Spies coming in to partner with Edwards at Tech 3. So there might be something good that comes of the rookie rule in MotoGP after all.

After all of that, I would agree that with his consistently good finishes Colin deserves and should probably be getting a little more air time but that's how it works in the rarified air of MotoGP.

Joel

[FirstDuc-1098]

if you're not first, you're last

[Pittenger5]

On that note, why is he never even talked about for a factory ride? Too old? If hes pulling 5ths on a satellite bike ...

[KRae33]

if you're not first, you're last

[KawiSmurf]

I can agree with the core of what Joel was saying, there's a dividing line between the factory and satellite riders. I'd even agree with the point that the Rizla Suzuki bikes aren't even top level anymore, which is probably why Capirossi seems to have sunk into oblivion.

In reality, there's six factory bikes/riders; four of those, which are fighting for the championship, are considered the Top Four, Fantastic Four, Circle of Four (whatever they're called now), one is a former champ (Hayden), and the other is trying to make a name for himself (Dovi).

Of the second tier guys (all the other bikes), I'd definitely want to put Edwards as the top rider. I'd go so far as to say that he and Dovi sort of blur the line a bit. The exceptions in this group next year will be Simoncelli and Spies, who are both just stopping by on the way to factory rides (mostly because Simoncelli seems so talented that everyone has stellar hopes for him, and because Spies just came off a memorable world championship).

That might all change next year with the 250 guy with the big hair, can't remember his name

Marco Simoncelli

On that note, why is he never even talked about for a factory ride? Too old? If hes pulling 5ths on a satellite bike ...

No room for him at the top, the big contracts sit with the most talented (for the moment). He's just not as fast as Valentino and Jorge...he ends up on the overflow satellite squad.

[SVRACER01]

i was agitated that it took 5 laps to even show Spies yesterday. they barely spoke of him which was kinda weird. Q'ing on the 3rd row shoulda got him some attention.

[Paul_E_D]

motogp.com covers edwards pretty well I think. They're always posting interviews with him etc. They covered Spies pretty well too I thought. Where are you guys watching?

[Pittenger5]

BBC coverage

[BMFR6]

coverage was about what i expected. you have to remember, sponsors pay these riders to be on tv. those that get paid the most, have the best results, etc are going to be on tv more. if i was repsol or fiat and my guys are winning, but the camera is always on colin and ben, i'd have to rethink where/why i am spending my money.

[a13x]

On that note, why is he never even talked about for a factory ride? Too old? If hes pulling 5ths on a satellite bike ...

Edwards was on Factory bike all but the last two years. He started on the Factory Aprilia MotoGP team with Nori Haga and then moved to the Factory Yamaha MotoGP team with Valentino Rossi.

He's very well respected in the MotoGP paddock.

[Karaya One]

I think the biggest knock against Edwards in the top class is that he has never won a race there. His last win in a top class was WSB where he was Champ on a Honda.

[Dieseldan]

Colin is one of my favorite riders, very consistent and a great test rider.


Gotta love his interviews 2!