spies to remain in WSB for 2010

2397 Views 39 Replies 16 Participants Last post by jetblack, Sep 10, 2009

scatterbrained

Discussion Starter · Sep 4, 2009

Spies Commits To Yamaha, Will Race In World Superbike In 2010, May Switch To MotoGP In 2011

Sep 04, 2009, ©Copyright 2009, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From a press release issued by Yamaha:

Yamaha Motor Company., Ltd and Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. are delighted to announce that an agreement has been concluded with Ben Spies for his participation with Yamaha for 2010 and 2011. The program foresees a season in 2010 with the Yamaha World Superbike Team based in Gerno di Lesmo, Italy and a switch to Yamaha's satellite MotoGP team for 2011.

Laurens Klein Koerkamp, Racing Manager Yamaha Motor Europe said, "we got to know Ben this season in our Yamaha World Superbike Team as a very talented, professional and dedicated person with whom we are thrilled to continue working. Not only is the relationship between Ben, the team and Yamaha in general very successful but it's also a pleasure to work with him. This early agreement permits Yamaha and Ben Spies to now fully focus on their 2009 World Superbike campaign in their challenge to achieve their first World Superbike Championship titles together."

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing added "we are truly excited about the prospect of Ben's arrival into our future MotoGP program. Ben is doing a great job for Yamaha in his first season in the World Superbike Championship. He is in great shape to challenge for the title this year and we will be rooting for him at the remaining four events this season. Ben's primary mission is to win both his and Yamaha's first World Superbike title. After that when Ben eventually makes the move to the MotoGP championship we will be ready for him and, in line with the new MotoGP regulations, we will create a place for him within the Yamaha satellite team and give him the support he needs for his next challenge."

"I am very happy to say that I will remain a part of the Yamaha family," said Ben Spies, "and that I will continue in the WSB series for 2010. This is an exciting period of my racing career and I look forward now even more. Yamaha has been great in the warm welcome that I have received entering the world arena and I want to thank them for all they have done, and for giving me their trust for a next career step into MotoGP in 2011."

This means obviously that Edwards will be keeping his seat and that Spies will definitely be on a YZR-M1 for 2011.

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PhilB

· #5 · Sep 4, 2009

kneedeepinit said:
That's correct.

Additionally, I think Spies is making a mistake. He should be in MotoGP right now! Definitely by next season. There's no time to wait. Going to GPs as a rookie at age 26 or 27 is too late! One of the satellite Yamaha MotoGP teams wanted Spies next year. That would provide him with the perfect opportunity to jump to Rossi's seat later. Maybe the money wasn't there?

He might be wanting to have a WSB championship before making the jump. This year it could happen, but if not he's very likely to get it next year. MotoGP, OTOH, he knows is still a different game, with a steep learning curve, and that he'll be a little while catching up.

Another possibility is that the "rookie rule" requires a certain number of MotoGP races before moving up, not a "season" specifically. Spies has already done a few as a wildcard with Suzuki, so if they can put him on a bike for nine MotoGP races next season, on the side, no pressure to perform, he qualifies as a "contracted ride" to skip the satellite and go right to the factory team in 2011. Or maybe they are planning to try to get the rookie rule dropped.

PhilB

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PhilB

· #16 · Sep 5, 2009

R1100S-Rider said:
Didn't Spies do a MotoGP race last season? Finished like 16th I think, most likely mistaken though.

He's done at least a couple. He was in the MotoGP at Laguna Seca last year; I saw him race. He placed pretty mid-pack, but then the Suzuki MotoGP bikes aren't at the sharp end of the field these days. I think he does have the capacity to do well in MotoGP, but it will be a learning curve. I don't think he will explode out of the box and contend for the championship immediately like he has in WSB.

And it may be as much Yamaha's doing. Perhaps the factory figures they've got a lock on the MotoGP championship this year, and probably next year as well, so Yamaha has a lot more to gain by keeping Spies in WSB and having a good chance of taking BOTH championship trophies back to the advertising department to play with.

PhilB

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PhilB

· #18 · Sep 5, 2009

kneedeepinit said:
That's what most people said about his chances in WSB, too. :cheers

Yes, but the difference between a MotoGP bike and a WSB bike is a lot b***** than the difference between a WSB bike and an AMA Superbike. And we've seen him run in MotoGP and he's done well, but not spectacularly. And WSB does not have anyone in it that is dominant like Rossi is (although he does have plenty of experience with that dynamic, with Mladin in AMA).

We'll see in a couple years.

PhilB

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PhilB

· #33 · Sep 7, 2009 (Edited)

jetblack said:
The problem with that idea is that Spies isn't even going there next year. There's a pretty decent chance Rossi or Lorenzo won't be there in 2011. I just don't understand it.

I think Yamaha wants to win MotoGP AND WSB in the same year more than it wants three Yamahas on the podium in MotoGP. With Rossi and Lorenzo both, they've got an almost sure thing to win the MotoGP championship already next year as well, so why would they give up their best chance at the WSB championship? I think this choice is a lot more about Yamaha than it is about Spies.

PhilB

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PhilB

· #37 · Sep 7, 2009

HiSpeed48 said:
on the BBC they said that Spies' contract doesn't say he has to stay in WSBK for 2010. in other words, they're not going to sign Toseland until the end of the year and Spies can still switch right over to Motogp. That decision would probably be decided if he wins the champ.

thats what Toseland's Manager told the BBC.

Edward's contract has already been renewed, unofficially, but he hinted at it during his interview yesterday.

See, now that makes sense for everybody.

PhilB

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