Edwards content to salvage ninth

The American started in 11th, having been 1.2 seconds slower than teammate Valentino Rossi in qualifying.

He tried a different set-up for the race and finished ninth despite an early error.

"After the problems we'd had all weekend we made a big change to the tyres and to our setting for the race, more towards what Valentino was running, so it was pretty different to what I'd been used to all weekend," Edwards said.

"I got pinched a bit at the start and had to go round the outside of a few people, and then I had a huge moment at the end of the first lap where it nearly flicked me off and I lost a few places.

"Once I'd got the measure of how to ride it though it actually felt okay and I did a 1:31.9 at one point, which I hadn't been close to all weekend.

"I gave it everything I had today and, although I can't be happy with ninth, after the nightmare I'd had all weekend I think it could have been worse."

Team director Davide Brivio was pleased that Edwards had managed to salvage a result from his weekend, and wondered what he might have achieved had he hit upon the right set-up earlier.

"Colin made a big effort and did a very good job because he was able to climb some positions in the second half of the race," Brivio said.

"If he'd had a faster pace from the beginning, he could have made a very good race. Unfortunately we struggled a lot with his bike throughout the weekend and this was the best we could do with him."