Lying sixth and tantalisingly close to the leading bunch for the opening nine laps, Edwards comfortably held onto fourth place after Honda riders Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden fell from the position.
"When you are sitting on the grid with big rain spots on the visor, it is the worst feeling because you just don't know what to expect," said Colin, after his best result since last July's German GP. "I actually got a good start but then somebody was out of the seat in turn one in front of me and then somebody else did the same at the second corner. I thought, 'it must be real slick because of the rain.' And it was a bit like being on ice.
"I just got my head down but it seemed they were just driving away from me. I was on it and the electronics were kicking in and working but I wasn't really going anywhere. Basically I couldn't build any heat in the tyre early on. Running that different tyre from Michelin for acceleration grip instead of maximum corner speed, for those conditions it didn't really work.
"Had it been dry from the start we'd have been good to fight for the podium. But with a bit of moisture I couldn't get any heat in the side of the tyre and no edge grip in the middle of the corner. Once I got heat into it I was motoring, which proved had it been dry, I'd gone for a good direction with Michelin. I wanted to be on the podium but I'll settle for fourth. It' something to build on and now we have got the new engine we can look forward with a lot of confidence. It was my best result for a long time so thanks to Tech 3 Yamaha and Michelin for that," concluded the Texan.
The light rain also had an impact on Toseland's normal aggressive start. The double WSBK champion slipped down to 11th on lap one, but fought back to overtake Loris Capirossi, Chris Vermeulen and Casey Stoner.
Stoner re-passed Toseland with eight laps remaining, leaving the Briton in a close fight for sixth with Randy de Puniet, who fell in the closing stages.
"It is another solid finish and I've moved into fifth in the championship, so I've got to be pleased with that. But it was a tough weekend," admitted the Briton. "Losing that hour of dry set-up time on Friday was pretty crucial, but I still got a second row and top seven on a track I don't know.
"Honestly though I wasn't aggressive enough at the start. When we were coming to the grid I saw Rossi pointing to the sky but it was only spitting, and I thought they'd take it a bit easy at the start. I'd got spots of rain on my visor and those conditions are not nice and not knowing the track and a bit of inexperience with the tyres I just didn't realise how hard you can push.
"But I didn't get a great start and that lack of experience cost me because I wasn't sure where to brake for the first corner. I braked too early and got baulked. I got into a consistent pace and was running 38s but losing that hour on the first day meant the set-up wasn't spot on. It wasn't bad but it could have been better.
"The rear shock was too soft under acceleration and pumping. So when I opened the throttle that pumping just ran me a bit wide on the exit. The package I have got now with the new engine is better than that, and that's what makes it frustrating.
"I'm not as happy with this as my other results because the bike is capable of more. It was another good day for the Tech 3 team and Michelin so I'll be looking to get closer to the front in China," he added.
Toseland was confirmed as a 2009 Tech 3 Yamaha rider on Friday.
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"When you are sitting on the grid with big rain spots on the visor, it is the worst feeling because you just don't know what to expect," said Colin, after his best result since last July's German GP. "I actually got a good start but then somebody was out of the seat in turn one in front of me and then somebody else did the same at the second corner. I thought, 'it must be real slick because of the rain.' And it was a bit like being on ice.
"I just got my head down but it seemed they were just driving away from me. I was on it and the electronics were kicking in and working but I wasn't really going anywhere. Basically I couldn't build any heat in the tyre early on. Running that different tyre from Michelin for acceleration grip instead of maximum corner speed, for those conditions it didn't really work.
"Had it been dry from the start we'd have been good to fight for the podium. But with a bit of moisture I couldn't get any heat in the side of the tyre and no edge grip in the middle of the corner. Once I got heat into it I was motoring, which proved had it been dry, I'd gone for a good direction with Michelin. I wanted to be on the podium but I'll settle for fourth. It' something to build on and now we have got the new engine we can look forward with a lot of confidence. It was my best result for a long time so thanks to Tech 3 Yamaha and Michelin for that," concluded the Texan.
The light rain also had an impact on Toseland's normal aggressive start. The double WSBK champion slipped down to 11th on lap one, but fought back to overtake Loris Capirossi, Chris Vermeulen and Casey Stoner.
Stoner re-passed Toseland with eight laps remaining, leaving the Briton in a close fight for sixth with Randy de Puniet, who fell in the closing stages.
"It is another solid finish and I've moved into fifth in the championship, so I've got to be pleased with that. But it was a tough weekend," admitted the Briton. "Losing that hour of dry set-up time on Friday was pretty crucial, but I still got a second row and top seven on a track I don't know.
"Honestly though I wasn't aggressive enough at the start. When we were coming to the grid I saw Rossi pointing to the sky but it was only spitting, and I thought they'd take it a bit easy at the start. I'd got spots of rain on my visor and those conditions are not nice and not knowing the track and a bit of inexperience with the tyres I just didn't realise how hard you can push.
"But I didn't get a great start and that lack of experience cost me because I wasn't sure where to brake for the first corner. I braked too early and got baulked. I got into a consistent pace and was running 38s but losing that hour on the first day meant the set-up wasn't spot on. It wasn't bad but it could have been better.
"The rear shock was too soft under acceleration and pumping. So when I opened the throttle that pumping just ran me a bit wide on the exit. The package I have got now with the new engine is better than that, and that's what makes it frustrating.
"I'm not as happy with this as my other results because the bike is capable of more. It was another good day for the Tech 3 team and Michelin so I'll be looking to get closer to the front in China," he added.
Toseland was confirmed as a 2009 Tech 3 Yamaha rider on Friday.
crash.net