Edwards has been testing at Suzuka

Castrol Honda's Colin Edwards remains in confident mood for the 2002 World Superbike championship campaign after a two-day test at Suzuka in Japan this week.

Edwards, the 2000 World Superbike champion, tested on Wednesday and Thursday with the second day being washed out by rain at the 3.64-mile Suzuka circuit near Nagoya.

"The dry weather testing proved more than worthwhile," said Edwards who recorded a fastest lap on Wednesday of 2m 07.51s aboard his VTR1000 SP-2 Honda.

The 27-year-old added: "The 2002 machine is really shaping up. We made a lot of changes during the test and there's every reason to be believe I can regain the title next year.

"My best lap on Wednesday was about a second faster than I've ever gone around Suzuka and after beating the lap record at Sugo six weeks ago we're all going into the Christmas period with a smile on our faces."

Edwards left Japan for Bologna in Italy where he will take part in a celebrity Supermoto event at the annual car and motorcycle show. The former motocross rider will race the new CR450 Honda.

Testing for Edwards continues in mid-January at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa.