With the news that his
MotoGP options for 2003 are now between Aprilia and Honda,
Colin Edwards has finally broke his silence over his strained relations with HRC and revealed what really upset him so much…
…and it turns out that Honda originally told him he didn't have a job for next year – sending him straight into the arms of Ducati and a signed letter of intent for WSBK, which Honda then wanted to break.
"You guys only know half the (Honda) story, well 3/4 of it anyway," he wrote on his official website
ceracing.com. "This is what really left a bad taste in my mouth: Monday after Imola the same guy that told me I didn't have a job at Suzuka, now informs me we have a place for you. ‘Honda V5, Bridgestones, and some of your team. And if there is any trouble breaking the Ducati (WSBK) letter of intent Honda are willing to compensate them'."
"I thought 'great sounds like a winner'. So the next day Ducati informed me of what it would take for Honda to have me back. So I informed Honda.
"They negotiated for a day then Honda called me and said ‘Sorry Honda cannot do anything, this is between you and Ducati' CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!! I was totally sh**ting my pants for a couple days stressing out (at perhaps having lost both rides). I'm not allowed to give you guys any details and maybe I've gone too far already, but that was the straw that broke my back."
Edwards then revealed that he managed to conclude his negotiations amicably with Ducati and also stated that he's unlikely to be seen in WSBK again.
"Ducati understand that I have nothing left to prove in SBK," he stated. "We worked it to where there was no loser and everyone left halfway content. I have great respect for the Ducati folks and we parted peacefully to where we could still work together in the future. In English terms no bridges were burned."
Edwards ended by admitting that if he can get the word from Michelin that he can have their rubber for next year, then the Aprilia deal is done.
