Catalunya MotoGP Reaction: Grip issues halt Colin Edwards’ charge

A rear grip problem cost Colin Edwards the chance to fight for a podium finish as he scored a third successive top six finish in Catalunya.

The Texan ran in fourth place for the opening eight laps before he was passed by former factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi.

Edwards then had a relatively lonely ride to fifth as he continued the best start to his premier class career.

The double World Superbike champion said: “I got a fantastic start and thought ‘brilliant here we go.’ But from the second corner I had a problem and to be honest we are scratching our heads a little bit.

“I struggled because early on I was doing low 43s but then I just couldn’t maintain that pace. I’d throw the bike in on the brakes but it would be sideways and I found myself having to change my style like I did in Mugello to help.

“I’d stop it hard on the brakes, turn it into the corner and then pick it up to accelerate but in some places where I would normally use second gear I was using third to baby it out of the corners.

“I did everything I could possibly do to hang in with the group but Andrea just seemed to have a bit more grip than me on the rear. He was able to pull away a little bit on every lap.

“I could catch him on the brakes but then I’d lost that crucial bit of time on the exit. What we ran in the warm-up was going to be too soft for the race with the temperature but I’m still happy with fifth.

“It’s one of the best results I’ve had here and now we go to Donington and Assen. They are two tracks I love and I’m sure I’m going to be fighting for the podium again.

We kept third in the team championship, which is great for the Tech 3 team, Yamaha and Michelin.