For Colin Edwards the Valencia race marks the end of a three-year spell with the factory Yamaha team that has wielded six podium positions - a tally the Texan admits could have been much higher but for the difficulties experienced this year. Amongst his highlights with the factory team were the teams’ and constructors’ titles and a new MotoGP record of 17 point-scoring finishes in 2005. Now the former World Superbike Champion remains typically determined to sign off with his first win for the team and hold off last year’s World Champion Nicky Hayden in the fight for eighth place in the championship.
“This season hasn’t really turned out exactly how we had planned, there have been some high points and some low points but all I’m thinking about now is making sure that Valencia is one of the high ones! ” says Edwards. “The last two races have been especially difficult but we’re starting with a clean slate on Friday morning and we’ll go from there. Of course it is not easy to win races in this series but that’s the target we start off with at every Grand Prix.
“My guys have worked so hard all season and I really want to give them something to be proud of at the last race. It’s going to be a strange race - my last with the team - but I’m really happy that I’m staying within the Yamaha family. My wife and a few friends from home are coming over too so I hope we can make it a weekend to celebrate. “
Davide Brivio - “Looking ahead to 2008”
Fiat Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio insists his staff are fully focused on their objectives for this weekend although he admits that attention is now turning towards 2008. The team will stay in Valencia for a two-day test next Tuesday and Wednesday but Brivio says the focus for the final race is to complete 2007 business with the runner-up spot in the championship for Rossi and a successful final race with the team for Colin Edwards.
“This is the last race of 2007 but we are already looking ahead to the 2008 season, which starts with testing at Valencia next Tuesday! ” says Brivio. “Already some of our work with the bike is targeted at next year but we also have one more race to contest and we want to be competitive. This circuit wasn’t a good one for us last year but we will try to finish the year as well as we can. Valentino needs one point to secure second in the championship, which is the best result we can hope for now, so our focus will be on that.
“This is Colin’s final race with the factory team but he will be staying with Yamaha, which is important to us. From our point of view he has been a great guy to work with and the combination with Valentino has been fantastic. In 2005, during his first season with the team, we won the teams’ and constructors’ titles, which was a great achievement together. That is why we are happy for him to stay in the Yamaha family and we wish him the very best for next season. ”
| 
|