COLIN EDWARDS has agreed a new one-year contract with the Yamaha Tech 3 squad for 2009.
He announced the move at the official Laguna Seca GP pre-event press conference last night.
Next year will be the 34-year-old Texan's fifth Yamaha in MotoGP. During his time in Grand Prix to date he has been one of the most consistent performers in the championship, scoring points in all but ten of his 94 MotoGP races.
Edwards said: "It is no secret that I had agreed with Yamaha to finish my MotoGP career at the end of 2008 and continue my racing career with them in America. But as soon as I began working with the Tech 3 team I instantly formed a great relationship with my guys. A big part of me wanting to stay is down to them, particularly Herve Poncharal and my crew chief Gary Reynders, but it has been a real team effort.
"I´d like to say a big personal thanks to Masao Furusawa, Lin Jarvis and Bob Starr. Across Japan, Europe and America, their support has been essential in securing this new deal. I believe I still have a lot to offer MotoGP, and I can assure the staff and management at Tech 3 and Yamaha that I will be giving it my all to produce the results all of us deserve, starting this weekend at Laguna Seca."
Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal added: "It was very important for us because the team has been working so well. Colin did an incredible job during the winter to develop the Yamaha bike and the Michelin tyres and not only that, he has been brilliant with the team. We have the feeling that he has been here forever, although it is really only half a season. We are having the best season I can remember, Colin and James (Toseland) are both doing excellent jobs, Colin fits really well in the team, he loves working with Gary (Reynders) and with the whole team.
"I think his original plan was to retire at the end of ´08, but even after his first few tests with us he said he would like to stay in MotoGP a bit more if he could do that with Tech 3 and Yamaha, so I am really pleased that half way through the year we have Colin clear with us for next year."
Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing said: "We are very happy to have been able to secure Colin as a Yamaha rider for 2009. We have been working to improve the quality of the total Yamaha package in the MotoGP class and in 2008 we have achieved the best combined results to date for many years.
"Colin´s contribution to the improvement of results in Tech 3 has been very important for the team and for the overall factory results."
