Colin Edwards thrilled with single tyre rule

Colin Edwards reckons the controversial switch to a single tyre rule for 2009 has taken a lot of risk and stress out of riding in MotoGP.

Under the new rules in winter testing, riders only have two front tyres and two rear tyres per day to work with, and all the rubber is tried and tested based on information gathered by Bridgestone during its domination in 2007 and ’08.

Edwards reckons the rule has made life much easier as it also lets riders and engineers dedicate much time to machine set-up than ever before. When Michelin used to compete in MotoGP, the majority of time at a test for a rider was set aside for tyre testing.

Edwards, who finished in an impressive fourth place in the season’s opening test session in Malaysia last weekend, told MCN: “It is unbelievable and takes away all the stress.

“I can just focus on going out and doing quality laps. I don’t know why we haven’t been doing this for the last 15 years in world championship racing. You don’t have to go out here and risk life and limb testing tyres that nobody else has tested thinking maybe it will work or it won’t.

“There’s no unknown quantity about the tyre because Bridgestone have only made available what they are 100 per cent sure know works. And now I can just concentrate on making the bike and the setting better.

“It is easy and works out awesome.”