Ben Spies Confirmed to Wildcard at both USGPs

[jk750]

Originally Posted by R1oldguy

i'll go $3000 and the bet is: I say Nicky places higher than Ben no matter who does or doesn't finish. We can do it for both races separately if you like

OK??

Ok, I'll go three thousand that Ben places higher than Nicky in at least one of the two races.

[Jim Moore]

This should be interesting. From what I see on TV, it looks to me like the MotoGP and WSB guys are on a whole different level than the AMA guys. My bet is that Spies slinks back to AMA with a little frowny face after his MotoGP appearances.

[jk750]

[jk750]

Originally Posted by Jim Moore

This should be interesting. From what I see on TV, it looks to me like the MotoGP and WSB guys are on a whole different level than the AMA guys. My bet is that Spies slinks back to AMA with a little frowny face after his MotoGP appearances.

Have you seen Spies race? Did you see him demolish Mladin and everybody else recently? I'm not sure if the WSB guys and the AMA guys are racing on the same track layout at Miller or not. I know the AMA guys are racing the new, longer layout this year. That would be interesting if we could compare lap times between the two. The AMA guys used to do pretty well in the combined WSB/AMA race at Laguna. Mladin tested with the WSB guys last year at Philip Island, beating all of them.

Given the right equipment *cough* I think Spies could be a contender in MotoGP. Suzuki had some podiums last year, but they lost Hopkins and Vermeulen isn't doing much this season. Is it the bike?

This is just Wildcard stuff right now. Meaning, not much practice or setup, on someone else's bike. Everyone will be seeing Indy for the first time except Nicky Hayden, who saw it on a 1909 Indian and an '08 1000RR. Everyone is familiar with Laguna now, except for the GP rookies. Spies knows Laguna. Roger Hayden did pretty well there last year as a wildcard on a Kawasaki GP bike.

[bomma]

oh c'mon jk750, much as I respect your opinion and racing knowledge ... Ben Spies will do Jack Shit as a MotoGp wildcard. He'll be on a bike he knows nothing about with no real practice time and even if he manages to stay on it he'll be a tailender. .

The AMA guys used to do pretty well in the combined WSB/AMA race at Laguna. Mladin tested with the WSB guys last year at Philip Island, beating all of them.

So why doesn't Mladin go to WSB then ? ... because he's in his comfort zone and earns a lot of money ? ... and maybe he likes winning rather than being second best ?.

[jk750]

We shall see, mate. Care to take the wager along with R1oldguy???

Spies is a far better rider than Nicky or Roger Hayden.

Mladin doesn't care about Europe anymore at this stage in his career. He's content to let the Europeans come come to him. Then he destroys them.

[Misfire]

Spies is hungry and is riding well. If his last few performances are any indication of how hard he is going to run in the GP I'll throw a few thousand more on him.


.

[OldSchlPunk]

AMA and WSB are running different configurations at Miller specifically so nobody can compare times.

[636blurr]

Wow I cannot believe how many people think he will not do well in GP. Look he's a racer, a very good racer at that, its not like he is going from a car to a bike or vice versa, its still a friggin bike for god sakes, it will not take him long to transition and do his thing.

[OldSchlPunk]

^^ I agree. I think the thing that will hold Ben back is the bike. The Suzuki just isn't there yet. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes Vermeulen look silly, and I kinda like Vermeulen.

[Jim Moore]

Originally Posted by jk750

Have you seen Spies race?

I may have to change my tune after watching the Fontana race last night. It's gonna be interesting.