Three Americans In MotoGP In 2013 As Edwards Stays Put

There will be three full-time American riders in MotoGP in 2013 as Colin Edwards has agreed to stay with NGM Mobile Forward Racing in the premier class of the World Championship.

Edwards, from Houston, will continue into his second season with the team, which fields production-based Claiming Rule Teams machinery. Next year will be Edwards’ 11th season in MotoGP.

Other Americans joining Edwards in MotoGP next season are Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies. Hayden re-signed for 2013 with the factory Ducati Team in July, while Spies was revealed Sept. 12 as a rider for Ducati’s new junior team.

Edwards is 17th in the MotoGP standings this season, with a top finish of 12th. He and the team have struggled with various mechanical and electronics problems with their Suter-BMW motorcycle. The team will decide on its chassis-engine package for 2013 after this season.

“We have a great team and a good package, and despite the problems this year it’s a pleasure to be here,” Edwards said. “We want to do well in the latter part of the season with the current package, and then next year we will see what to do. At the end of 2012, we will evaluate what our best option is.”

The date for the sixth Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be announced soon, as MotoGP organizer Dorna is expected to release a provisional 2013 schedule shortly.