AMERICAN STAR EDWARDS STAYING IN MotoGP WITH YAMAHA IN 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, – Colin Edwards, the leading American rider in the 2008 MotoGP World Championship, has signed a one-year contract to stay with the Tech 3 Yamaha team through the 2009 season.

Edwards, 34, has enjoyed the strongest of his six MotoGP seasons in 2008. He is fifth in the standings on his Tech 3 Yamaha/Michelin, with a best finish of third at the Grands Prix of France and The Netherlands. He also won the pole at the Grand Prix of China and has started on the front row four times overall this season.

“I am very happy to renew my contract with the Tech 3 team and Yamaha for 2009,” Edwards said. “It is no secret that I had agreed with Yamaha to finish my MotoGP career at the end of 2008 and continue my racing career with them in America. But as soon as I began working with the Tech 3 team, I instantly formed a great relationship with my guys. A big part of me wanting to stay is down to them, particularly Herve Poncharal and my crew chief, Gary Reynders, but it has been a real team effort.

“With the amazing amount of work and dedication shown by Yamaha staff throughout last winter, I knew I wasn’t ready to leave MotoGP before the season had even started. I am also thankful to Yamaha for continuing to give me their full support.”

Edwards, from Houston, will pair with British rider and current teammate James Toseland again in 2009. Edwards and Toseland have helped Tech 3, a Yamaha satellite team, become the top non-factory team in the sport. Tech 3 is fourth in MotoGP team standings.

Two-time World Superbike champion Edwards joined the Yamaha factory team in 2005 for three seasons before moving to Tech 3 this season. He spent his first two MotoGP seasons, in 2003 and 2004, on Aprilia and Honda bikes.

Edwards and the rest of the MotoGP field will race in the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

***

Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: Tickets are on sale for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008.

Tickets can be purchased either online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All tickets for this event are three-day tickets, with both reserved and general admission seating available.