Yamaha and Edwards to continue partnership for 2007

Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd is pleased to announce that Colin Edwards will continue with the Japanese factory for a third year in 2007, racing in the official Yamaha Factory Team. The 32-year-old American, who has previously won two World Superbike titles and has a best finish of fourth in the MotoGP World Championship with Yamaha, joined the Team in 2005 and has scored points in all but one of his 33 starts for them. Edwards has signed a one-year agreement, which will see him race on Yamaha’s new 800cc bike alongside Valentino Rossi again next season.

Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl, Lin Jarvis, commented, “We are very happy to have retained Colin for another year. Although he hasn’t had the easiest of seasons in 2006, he has given a strong showing in the last few races and has proven he can fight at the top of the MotoGP World Championship. He fits very well into the Yamaha ‘family’ and we’re sure that he will play a key role in the development of the new 800cc Yamaha MotoGP bike alongside Valentino.”

Edwards, who began his international career with Yamaha in the World Superbike series in 1995 before returning to the Factory last year, said “I couldn’t be happier to be staying with Yamaha for another year. It’s no secret that this season we haven’t achieved the results we should have had, but in the last few races I feel that things have started to turn around and we hope to finish on a high in Valencia. I couldn’t ask for a better team-mate or team, I’m really happy at Yamaha and I can’t wait to start working on the new bike!”

“The good partnership between Colin and Valentino is one of the strongest assets of our team,” added Davide Brivio, Team Director of Yamaha’s Factory Team. “We think that, for various different reasons, Colin wasn’t able to show his full potential this year and that’s why we’re very glad to have the chance to work again together next year. We are confident that we can offer him the right package to enable him to stay at the top throughout next season. Working with Colin is a real pleasure and we’re very happy to continue with him for another year.”

Colin Edwards Statistics: Grands Prix contested in total: 65 First Grand Prix: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, 2003 MotoGP Podiums: 6 World Championships: 2 (World Superbike)

2006: Camel Yamaha Team – MotoGP World Championship 2005: 4th – MotoGP World Championship (Yamaha) 2004: 5th – MotoGP World Championship 2003: 13th – MotoGP World Championship 2002: World Superbike Champion – race wins 11, Winner Suzuka Eight Hours 2001: 2nd – World Superbike Championship – race wins 4, Winner Suzuka Eight Hours 2000: World Superbike Champion – race wins 8 1999: 2nd – World Superbike Championship – race wins 4 1998: 5th – World Superbike Championship – race wins 3 1997: 12th – World Superbike Championship 1996: 5th – World Superbike Championship, Winner Suzuka Eight Hours 1995: 11th – World Superbike Championship 1994: 5th – AMA Superbike Championship – race wins 3 1993: 6th – AMA Superbike Championship 1992: AMA 250cc Champion