SUPERBIKE BREAK
Colin was 1992 USA 250GP champion and then it was on to Superbikes. “Larry Schwarzbach got killed in 1992 on the Vance & Hines bike. Nobody wanted to see what happened, but at the same time there was a Vance & Hines bike open when one of our young riding stars was taken away. Vance & Hines came down to Oak Hill in late 1992, it was an easy place to go test. I rode well, and they said ‘we want you to ride the bike for the next few years.’ It was a big learning curve getting on a Superbike after being on a GP bike.” Terry Vance explains: “Colin was pretty new on the scene and Jim Leonard recognised that he was really good. He was really good at pushing the front and rear at the same time. There were so few guys at that time that could slide both ends. Everybody in the paddock was talking about how you should see this guy come around the turn at the bottom of the hill. And Colin was just a kid. Jim Leonard had the bike tuned up good to where it would slide the tyres and not break away. Colin was unbeatable on that bike.” Colin recalls: “That was Road Atlanta; I remember it like it was yesterday. I was on the edge; I mean that thing was sideways coming in as I’d grab a handful and get it to turn. “I didn’t win a race in 1993,” Colin continues, “it was a big learning curve and I don’t think we had the best bike in the first place. I just didn’t have that confidence, it didn’t seem to work.” Ducati was at the fore in those days. “At Road America I took off and was way out in front, with three or four seconds on them within six laps. Next thing you know Pascal Picotte and Doug Polen tracked me down like I was nothin’. I was out there riding my ass off. Polen passed me and then Picotte stuffed me, I went back by him and then the f***** ran into the back of me and took us both out.” The following season was all Ducati, until Edwards starting coming on strong near the end. “I was hanging out with my brother and this infomercial came on about motivation. If you don’t believe in yourself it’s not going to happen. Well I ordered those tapes and listened to them. So I went out there with an attitude and I won. I was 20 years old and knew that I needed to rewire something. I went to the next race and got pole position in front of Scott Russell (defending WSB Champion).
“THE REAR TYRE CAME DOWN EXACTLY ON HIS CHEST. IT WAS JUST A FREAK ACCIDENT, NOBODY WAS DOING ANYTHING STUPID, BUT SOMEBODY WASN’T BREATHING ANYMORE.”