Edwards feeling better than expected

Colin Edwards admitted that he was in plenty of discomfort from his recently-fractured collarbone during practice at Silverstone today - but still felt the experience had been better than he expected

The American is back on his Tech 3 Yamaha just a week after suffering the injury in a Catalunya practice crash. He had surgery the next day and hoped to race last Sunday had he not been denied permission by the medical officials.

Edwards was slowest in both today's sessions at Silverstone and said he had been taking things very cautiously.

"Today was all about getting back on the bike and building up some confidence after last week's crash," he said. "I wasn't going to do anything too crazy but the shoulder definitely hurts a bit. I'm in a bit of pain in the braking zone for right-handers and unfortunately this a right-handed track.

"Honestly speaking though the shoulder feels better than I thought it would."

He said he had been particularly conservative in the wet second session.

"In the dry and the wet I was just riding really timid, particularly this afternoon on the wet track," Edwards said.

"The conditions were just about the worst imaginable because one corner would be dry and the next wet. Some parts were drying really quick while others it was still soaking wet. I had nothing to prove but at least with that wet session we've got a feel for the track if it rains on Sunday."

Edwards added that his preference from a fitness point of view would be for more rain.

"Right now, I certainly won't be upset if the race is wet on Sunday. I'll take a wet race right now because the stress on the shoulder is a lot less than in the dry, but we'll have to wait and see what happens with the weather."