Double World Superbike champion Colin Edwards was born in Houston, Texas on February 27th, 1974. He rode his first bike at the age of three, entered his first race a year later and was quickly winning Motocross trophies. His Australian-born father, Colin Edwards Sr, also raced motorcycles and played a big role in Colin's early career.
Edwards was a top US amateur through his early Motocross career, before making the switch to road racing at the age of 16 and continuing a successful amateur career. Turning pro just before the 1992 season, he raced for South West Motorsports in the National 250cc series, winning five races and beating Kenny Roberts Jr. to the title.
In 1993, aged 19, Colin moved into the AMA Superbike series and spent two years developing his talents on a Yamaha Superbike, finishing 6th in the championship in his first year and 5th in 1994. Yamaha then moved him into the international field, and in 1995 he contested his first World Superbike Championship with the newly formed Yamaha Belgarda Factory Team.
After spending 1995 learning the new tracks, he achieved his first podium position in 1996. In the same year he teamed up with Noriyuki Haga for the Suzuka Eight-Hour, the pair becoming the youngest duo to win the race in its history. He missed most of 1997 sidelined through injury, then joined the factory Castrol Honda team in 1998, pulling off a double win at Monza and finishing 5th overall in the Championship.
In 1999 he finished second, but 2000 saw him victorious; he won eight races and the World Superbike Championship title. He lost his crown in 2001 to Troy Bayliss and Ducati, but would sensationally recapture it the following year
Bayliss had won 14 of the first 17 races - with Edwards taking just 2 wins - but a win in race two at his home Laguna Seca event would see the start of a perfect run in which the 'Texas Tornado' took 7 wins in a row - while Bayliss made a crucial mistake by falling at the penultimate Assen round - making the pair effectively equal as they headed for the Imola title decider.
The 2002 title was then decided by two unforgettable races at the Italian racetrack, in which Bayliss and Edward battled tooth and nail from start to finish - but remained sporting and friendly throughout. In the end it was Edwards who prevailed, winning both races ahead of Bayliss, but both riders ultimately gained from the legendary showdown.
Edwards thus finished his final World Superbike season with 11 race wins - 9 of which were in a row - taking his WSBK total to 31, putting him second only to Carl Fogarty on the all time WSBK win list.
Like Bayliss, Edwards then left the World Superbike Championship for MotoGP in 2003, the American joining Aprilia's factory MotoGP outfit after Honda surprisingly refused to find him a GP ride.
Edwards then switched to the satellite Telefonica Honda team for 2004, before joining the factory Yamaha MotoGP team for 2005 and 2006.
Career highlights:
2005: Gauloises Yamaha Team - MotoGP World Championship (4th).
2004: Telefonica Honda Team - MotoGP World Championship (5th).
2003: MS Aprilia - MotoGP World Championship - 13th.
2002: World Superbike Champion with Castrol Honda 11 race wins. Winner Suzuka Eight Hours.
2001: 2nd - World Superbike Championship with Castrol Honda 4 race wins. Winner Suzuka Eight Hours.
2000: World Superbike Champion with Castrol Honda 8 race wins.
1999: 2nd - World Superbike Championship with Castrol Honda 4 race wins.
1998: 5th - World Superbike Championship with Castrol Honda 3 race wins.
1997: 12th - World Superbike Championship with Belgarda Yamaha.
1996: 5th - World Superbike Championship with Belgarda Yamaha . Winner Suzuka Eight Hours
1995: 11th - World Superbike Championship with Belgarda Yamaha .
1994: 6th - AMA Superbike Championship with Yamaha - race wins 3.
1993: 6th - AMA Superbike Championship with Yamaha.
1992: National 250cc Champion.
1991: Amateur racing in 600cc, 750cc and 250cc classes.
