It looks like Colin Edwards doesn’t want to retire at the end of this MotoGP season and still wants to ride, but as he’s kind of getting long in the tooth for the very youngish MotoGP grid, and despite some good performances including a 3rd place podium at Silverstone a week after collarbone surgery, the 37-year old Texan could make a return to World Superbikes next year and try to take on oldies, but goldies Superbike leaders Carlos Checa (38) and Max Biaggi (40).
Edwards was poised to make the switch last season and was negotiating with Ducati Xerox until the Italian manufacturer decided to pull out their factory effort, while this time the American is in talks with the BMW Motorrad team, even though there may be other options as he revealed to GPWeek.
While the highly popular Edwards hopes to stay on with Yamaha Tech3 for another year, team owner Herve Poncharal has been inundated with requests from riders to take over Edwards M1.
Current Moto2 points leader Stefan Bradl has been eyed by Yamaha’s head honcho Lin Jarvis very early on (unless the German rider ends up on Honda and with an all German team under Lucio Cecchinello’s watch) which could be an option as Yamaha would directly foot Bradl’s contract.
English rider Bradley Smith could make the vertical move from Poncharal’s Moto2 team and team up with Cal Crutchlow which would make it popular with British fans and the BBC, as could Eugene Laverty.
The Northern Irishman had talks with the French manager at Brno, after losing his 2012 WSBK ride when Yamaha made their shock pullout announcement and is recorded as saying he’s “optimistic” about a MotoGP ride.
Randy de Puniet is also rumored to make the switch to World Superbikes, and he’s always been on Poncharal’s wishlist, with the manager’s eye on the marketing appeal of a French rider in a French team to pull in more sponsors.