Edwards fury at Hayden GP ride

Colin Edwards has hit out at the politics behind Honda’s decision to give fellow-American Nicky Hayden a MotoGP ride on a Honda V5.

Edwards – who has signed a letter of intent to ride for Ducati in WSB next year – says part of his motivation to leave Honda was his treatment by Honda top brass after winning the prestigious Suzuka Eight-hour race earlier this year.

Edwards told MCN: ” I am pissed off that Hayden has been given a GP ride and I didn’t after all I have done for Honda over the previous five years. I have won two Suzuka Eight-hour races and a world title with another one still a possibility. After all that I would have thought I would have been the first in line for a GP ride.

” Instead I just feel like I have had a boot removed from my ass at high speed!

” The whole politics thing at Honda is bullshit. It just seems riders who have got a load of money behind them get rides – it doesn’t seem to matter if they can ride a bike well, win races or championships. If you’ve got the money then in you come.

” All this means for me is that I am getting closer and closer to being a Ducati rider. I am not sitting around kissing ass to get a ride. That’s not me. ”