Edwards: Bike’s Crap, Rules Not Good Either
Paul Carruthers | July 26, 2012
Never one to pull punches, Colin Edwards was in good form at today’s pre-Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix press conference at the racetrack in the hills of Monterey, with the Texan laying it on the table in the only way he knows.
“My bike is a piece of shit, that’s a better way to say it,” Edwards said when asked about his woes of 2012 with the NGM Mobile Forward Racing BMW Suter. “It’s been tough. Obviously some of the things that we were promised… we had our ass smacked and our balls tickled and they just haven’t come to fruition. Some of the things that we were promised… it just hasn’t happened. I’m not only trying to race the bike, but I also have to do 100 percent of the development. We don’t have anybody there… we have this big window with electronics and everything and you have to get it down to a small point and let’s go fine tune it. We’re not even there yet and it’s halfway through the year.”
So what’s next? A new bike?
“Honestly I don’t really know,” Edwards said. “I’ve heard rumors that we’re getting on an Aprilia in Indianapolis. I still won’t be able to compete with these guys, but it’s the best CRT bike out there at the moment so if that happens that’s a step forward.”
Edwards’ frustration goes beyond his ability compete on his bike. He’s not a fan of the CRT concept… at least as it stands now.
“It just kind of a bullshit rule,” the Texan said. “The CRT thing is… how are you supposed to fly around the world and compete when you know you can’t win. It’s really been hard this year and hard to stay motivated… maybe you get 12th, maybe you get 10th. To be the first CRT has been our ultimate goal and that’s the only goal we can shoot for. The formula’s just not right yet. The CRT thing is a good idea, or a one-brand bike or… whatever that rule is. But when you still have a bunch of prototypes out on the track, it’s more dangerous than anything. I feel like I’m spending more time looking behind me. I don’t want to get in any of these guys way. It needs to be thought out… something needs to be done.”
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
