Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128392
It's a Long Way to the Top... e Texas Tornado took a slow ride to his ultimate goal. It seemed to go fast enough at first, as he headed onward from AHA 250cc success In the USA (he defeated none other than Kenny Roberts Jr.) and then some National Superbike wins. But then he became becalmed. Instead of conquering Wond Superbikes and moving on, Colin lingered there for eight long years. It was In Itself a successful career, of course. Colin battled hard for Yamaha for two years but was passed over In his desire to switch to GP racing. He switched to Honda In 1997, winning two World Championships, in 2000 and 2002. But once again, the long-expected GPride reward didn't come. And when it did, haIf-heartedly and late, it was not for the full factory team. That slot went to kid racer Nicky Hayden. The best HRC could offer for Its double World Superbike Champion was a satellite team on then-new Bridpstone tires. Mer a career of not only radng Mlchellns but also as a major tester for them, Edwards said, "I feel like the redheaded stepson," and took a better offer from AprIlia Instead. Wu It better? Well, 2003 was a rocky road. The AprIIia was vert fast but very wayward, complicated still further by a set of lIy-by-wIre controls that were (to put T 28 AUGUST 24,2005 • CYClI N.W5 it kindly) at an early stage of development. And then the fuel tank exploded, at speed, at the Sachsenring. Colin was lucky to emerge in one piece, and to switch to a Honda for 2004. At last. Now it should have been easy. Colin was teammate to Sete Gibernau; the bike was good enough to win races. Colin made the rostrum twice... but a yearlong battle with persistent tire chatter left the critics grumbling that this one-time almost unbeatable Superbike star had (like his SBK rival Troy Bayliss) run out of steam. With Hayden also relatively downbeat, it seemed the ex-Superbike riders were not all they were cracked up to be. For 2005. it was another move... back to his first World Championship employer, Yamaha. And a plum job. as Rossi's teammate. Now aged 31 years and with a daughter (Gracie) of 2 years along with him and his wife, Alyssia, in the motor home, Colin is popular, open-natured, funny and hugely likeable. Professionally, he occupies a curious position: He's both an elder statesman of racing and at the same time just a third-year racer In GPs, with less experience at some of the tracks than several 125 riders. But did the Tornado deserve a second chance? He'd already answered that on the track when I spoke to him at Oonlngton Park, one race after his strong second place in the United States and one day before he just missed the rostrum in Britain, finishing fourth in the rain-slashed race to move to within one point of second in the World Championship. Colin, the U.S. GP was a bit of a turning point, but how different would It have been if you hadn't been so slow off the line? [He finished lap one In seventh.] To start this thing [the Yamaha] is... a bit difficult. It's strange, because I've always been really good at starting anything, you know? I think we've finally got it figured. We'll see tomorrow. At least one out of 10 races you gotta get a good start, and this is the ninth race, so... So it's either here or the next one. Honestly, it would have been a different race, I think. I abused everything I had. I was taking no prisoners... just shattered the rear and front trying to make up ground, in no mode but kill mode. Once I got up there. with like eight, nine laps left, it was difficult. Having to stand it up early and get on the gas instead of carrying corner speed - it made life difficult, yeah. Were you surprised that RossI didn't put up more of a filhtl