Colin Edwards wants nothing short of two wins as the 2001 World Superbike championship concludes at the Italian circuit of Imola on Sunday.

Edwards, fastest in testing at Imola six weeks ago, is in a confident mood after another visit recently to the Michelin test track in France. The Texan believes improvements to his SP-2 machine and the Michelin tyres will give him every chance of ending the season on a high note.

“Having lost the title this year I’m hurting and I don’t want to go into the winter months thinking about what might have been” says the 27-year-old. “I want two wins at Imola, that will take me to six for the year and that’s respectable enough for me.”

He adds: “We’ve been really putting the effort in with Michelin and I’ve already seen the new SP-2 for next year so I’ve everything to look forward to, that will give me enough motivation to win on Sunday.”

The World Superbike championship visits Imola for the first time but Castrol Honda’s Tady Okada is no stranger to the 4.892km circuit. The former 500cc grand prix rider is hoping to end his season on a high.

“It’s been far from a good year for me but I’ve every confidence of ending the season in a positive manner,” says Okada. “I like racing at the Imola track and I had a successful test there recently so there’s every reason to believe I can go there and win.”

Edwards is defending second place in the championship, 31 points ahead of fellow American Ben Bostrom while Okada is in ninth place, 21 points adrift of Kawasaki’s Akira Yanagawa.