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General SportbikesThis area is made for sportbikes in general. Posts that dont really belong anywhere else besides here. Questions can be answered and addressed to fully understand certain aspects. If your question is Manufacturer specific please post it there.
I think he's definitely got the right idea about how hard it is going to be for him to adjust and be successful on the level he is expected to be. He's a superbike rider riding a satellite bike in his first season ever on a prototype bike. I also think he is doing his best to lower everyone's expectations in order to make any success be significant rather than expected.
First time EVER on the M1 and he's 1/5 a second off Toseland's pace. Yeah, I don't think Yamaha's reconsidering any time soon
__________________ Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
Spies completes first MotoGP free practice in Valencia
Wildcard Sterilgarda Yamaha rider Ben Spies got stuck into the first free practice session of the weekend at the Valencia MotoGP today. Despite being Spies' first outing on the Yamaha YZR-M1, the American made good progress, improving by nearly five seconds over the course of the session and finishing just over a second off the top five in 15th position. Spies made few changes to his M1, preferring to get as much track time in as possible as he begins to understand the different handling and power characteristics compared to his championship winning Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike.
Tomorrow morning will see Spies looking to bring the set up of his bike further in line with his style of riding ahead of his first GP qualifying session on a Yamaha.
"It was actually a really good first session. Position wise it wasn't what we are used to but I haven't ridden a GP bike for a year and it's the first time I've set foot on a Yamaha so to be realistically only a second off being in the mix is pretty good. For the first day, and only 20 laps on the bike I'm happy. I'm starting to understand some of the characteristics of the M1. I'm going to keep baby steps and keep chipping away."
Massimo Meregalli - Sterilgarda Yamaha Team Manager
"For the first day here in this world with no experience on this bike or with these tires Ben did as usual a good job, but we didn't expect anything else. For sure just one practice is not enough time to say too much but we cannot say that we are not satisfied. Ben didn't want to use more than one set of tyres, he just wanted to spend some time on his bike and get used to the differences from his superbike. Tomorrow he will make another step, I'm very optimistic as I was all season with him."
Also - Soup :: Ryder Notes: All According To Plan :: 11-06-2009
Today Ben Spies did exactly what he said he'd do yesterday. Riding at "about 70%," he took his time in the first fifteen minutes which he described as 'crap.' The second quarter-hour was a bit better but he was still riding the like the M1 was an R1. He got rolling in the final half hour of the session, adjusting his braking and lines a little. He didn't touch the bike and did the whole session on one set of tyres.
His verdict: "Pretty satisfied to be only 0.5sec too slow to be in the mix,' and "not so far behind James Toseland." Ah, so he is taking notice of the man with whom he is doing a job swap. He had encouragement from Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan. Ben was pretty stoked to be told by Mighty Mick that he was doing a good job. Valentino Rossi thought he was alright, too: "It's just a question of time.' Although he did say that the biggest problem Ben will have to deal with is the change to Bridgestones which are so different from anything else he will have encountered.
Man, QP just ended, it was awesome seeing Spies out there. I don't think there was a time when Toseland was faster. Spies Q'd ninth, and Toseland a lowly 14th.
Stoner Pedrosa and Lorenzo on the first row for the last time this year. Rossi joins Edwards and Nicky on the second.
Anyone know a hookup for live feed? I'll probably be getting home right around green flag time, may as well watch before I go to bed!
__________________
For as dumb as you are, even you will remember this. - Lee Ving/ Fear
Ever feel you've been cheated? - Johnny Rotten
I go Beltway blitzin' on my mad mofo musclebike WFO. Its a true choice, a god-like experience if you will. The thought that I could buy the farm in a spectacular fireball...................well, that gives me a stiffie! Tesco Vee/The Meatmen
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