Colin Edwards deserves 2010 deal, says Tech 3 boss

Colin Edwards thoroughly deserved his chance to stay in MotoGP in 2010.

That’s the view of Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal after the Frenchman confirmed yesterday (Thursday) in Estoril that he will field an all-American line-up next season.

Current World Superbike contender Ben Spies will join Edwards in a move that has forced James Toseland to make a swift return to WSB.

Edwards has clinched a new contract after an impressive 2009 campaign saw him feature in the top seven in ten out of 13 races so far.

The double World Superbike champion is also still firmly in contention for a top five world championship finish And Poncharal said: “Colin is a brilliant guy and he really deserves to be with us again.

“I know he’s not the youngest guy on track, but he’s sixth in the championship. He helped us to our best ever result, which was second place at Donington. You have a lot of pressure and a lot of investments, and a lot of responsibilities in racing.

“But at the end of the day, each team should be a bit like a family, and I think Colin really belongs to the Tech 3 family. All of us in the team enjoy with him a relationship like we’ve really rarely had before.

“Just for that, I think we need Colin to be staying in MotoGP, because he brings a bit of a human touch in this sometimes difficult world.”