MotoGP veteran Colin Edwards is impressed with the power coming from his factory Yamaha-powered FTR Open class MotoGP steed but says he needs to sort out out the chassis before working on an electronic strategy.
The Texas Tornado, who turns 40 this year, is some way behind his team-mate Aleix Espargaro but says that as soon as he has got his head around the new chassis, he will be good to go. The motor, though, has seriously impressed Edwards.
"This thing is just electric. From bottom to top there is no change, it is just electric. I will give you a million dollars if you can find a flatspot. It's awesome," said Edwards, speaking at Sepang.
"When you look at the new style of Marquez and Pedrosa, it's pivot. You get in, get it on its side, you have to be able to pivot, pick the bike up and go. You get a lot of your turning done in about five metres. I don't have quite that feel yet. I feel like I am squeezing and squeezing and accidentally getting some pivot but its not as boom-boom as I want it to be.
"Hard braking is not really a problem but it's hard to carry that braking to the middle of the corner. It's almost like you have to brake a little early, set up and carry some speed. What I think I want to do seems to run me wide. I'm not a muscle rider, I am a finesse rider, when I am going fast I look like I am having a coffee and smoking a cigarette.
"It's a little more physically demanding and I am trying to get my head around that. We have all the power we need, we just need to figure it out electronically. We haven't really touched with the electronics. Let's get the bike working first, tyres we got to do, electronics we got to do. I think tomorrow we will be a little more on par. Today was about focusing on the chassis and trying to get it to turn a little better."
Edwards is also very impressed with the performance of Espargaro, who finished today's session in fifth place and ahead of Jorge Lorenzo.
"It would be nice to be 25 again. Fresh balls and full of piss and vinegar. He is doing great. He is very impressive," said the Texan.
