The Castrol Honda team continued its testing at Phillip Island over two days this week with all members happy with the progress that has continued after the rain-interrupted test of Eastern Creek the week before.

Edwards was happy with his progress and what he had to test, but the afterwards, Texan was off like a tornado heading straight to the airport for his next destination: the Canary Islands to compete in the Michelin Race of Champions before attending the FIM prize-giving ceremony.

Crew chief Adrian Gorst told AMA Soup "We?ve moved on a few steps from Eastern Creek where we didn?t get enough stuff done with the rain. Phillip Island has been totally different. There?s a couple of things we?re not sure of at the moment but the package feels pretty good.

"We were never trying to go fast but Colin went as fast as he has ever gone there, turning his best time of a 1:33.21, his best was a few hundredths slower than that, plus he was doing consistent 33s back to back.

"Colin?s really happy, but we had to finish the test at 3pm to get him on a flight out of here.

"We did a lot of suspension work with a fair bit of work on the rear end. We?ve found out a couple of good things. The speed of the Island has given us a lot of positive direction. We?ve improved traction, the turning of the bike and also the front end grip."

The team has had many bits to test: chassis more rigid, swingarms, suspension and the Brembo brake test continued, the Italian factory keen to convert Edwards.

"Brembo have been really trying hard," continued Gorst. "After Eastern Creek they came up with some new stuff for us to test and have improved the overall package. If we went racing today we?d still be on the Nissan, but they have (Brembo) taken a lot out of these tests and will be working harder to make improvements where Colin feels he needs them. No decisions have been made to what we?ll be running; all that will be decided after the testing in the New Year."

After the Yuletide break Edwards and co will test at Kyalami at the end of January, but according to Gorst at this stage will not be returning to Australia until the Superbike round in April preferring (at this stage)not to attend the official SBK tests at Phillip Island in February.

Edwards? big worry now is getting dressed up in a suit, a rather unusual experience. "I never wear a suit so getting dressed up with a jacket and tie for the FIM prize-giving is going to be a whole new experience for me."

* Tad Okada - who missed the Australia trip due to an ankle injury tested at Suzuka in Japan. Gorst added he believed Tady went "reasonably quick."