MotoGP: Colin Edwards urges Yamaha to improve 2008 engine

American Colin Edwards has urged Yamaha engineers to improve engine performance on the 2008 factory YZR-M1 800 machine.

While the main criticism of Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi has focused on the current struggles of Michelin to compete with rivals Bridgestone, the double World Superbike champion believes Yamaha also needs to up its performance.

Yamaha’s 2007 contender has been easily outpaced by Ducati’s GP7 and only recently has the Japanese factory retaliated by unveiling a new pneumatic valve engine to close some of the horsepower and top speed difference.

Colin Edwards will make way for reigning world 250 champion Jorge Lorenzo in Yamaha’s official factory team next season, though he will retain his factory rider status in the Tech 3 squad with James Toseland.

The 33-year-old told MCN: “Yamaha know they have to improve. That’s something that we really don’t need to discuss.

“All you have to do is look at our top speed chart anywhere and just watch TV.

“Just about any bike that we come near it just out accelerates us and you can’t get close enough to out-brake anybody unless they slipstream you, then you could possibly out-brake them.

“Yamaha needs to do some work but they know that. We’ll just wait and see what they come up with.”