Only seven points separates Colin Edwards and Andrea Dovizioso in the overall rankings with two events left for the year.  The Texan needs a strong result in Sepang and Valencia to pass his opponent.

Apart from his DNF in Misano, when a smash with Alex de Angelis finished his event, Edwards has ended in fifth position in his prior three competitions.

The Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix arrives this weekend and offers the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 competitor a chance to take further points off Dovizioso’s mild advantage.

“We need to get on the podium, we need to get a chunk of points over the next couple of races to get that fifth,” Edwards states after beating Dovizioso at Phillip Island.

Commenting on whether Sepang would provide the setting for an accomplishment, Edwards adds, “Possibly. It would’ve been better if De Angelis hadn’t taken me out at Misano – obviously we’d still be ahead of Dovizioso. But that’s racing, and we move forward. I think at Malaysia, or Valencia, we’ve still got a good shot at getting on the podium.”