Ben Spies

SackWack said:

But what factory team sends their rider out in a race with a cracked frame?

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More accurately - which crew sends their rider out with a cracked subframe? The 'team' comprises two disparate crews. Team management don't oversee the individual tasks the crew perform - that's the job of the crew chief.

SackWack said:

Ben has always done well at Assen. This race will define and decide his future IMO.

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Oh dear....he's starting behind the guy with a broken leg on the satellite squad....

Quote MigsAngel,,,,,Oh dear....he's starting behind the guy with a broken leg on the satellite squad....





And will finnish behind him again, bye Ben.

I can't seem to wrap my mind around why Spies seems so preoccupied with "other things"...namely his cycling team and other interests. You would never know he was a GP racer if only by following his tweets and such. From what I have gathered he and Stoner are on fairly friendly terms and I can't help but wonder that maybe Spies is of the same mind as Stoner regarding the direction of the championship. Conversations to that end have most certainly been had between them as well as with others. It is no secret that Spies has never been a fan of living abroad in the circus-lifestyle that is GP nor is he a fan of GP politics within the paddock in general.



I guess my point is what if Spies really doesn't see the need to carry on in GP any further than 2012 in a way similar to Stoner? It is likely he would have a right difficult time winning a championship with Lorenzo around anyway...he already has a win and a few podiums at the GP level...more than most can say. So ...., maybe he is just biding his time and waiting to be replaced so he can move back to the states and onto other things that interest him. Maybe this is total ........, but I can't help but wonder who else in the paddock might be fed up with it all and wanting out.

Z4Kevo said:

I can't seem to wrap my mind around why Spies seems so preoccupied with "other things"...namely his cycling team and other interests. You would never know he was a GP racer if only by following his tweets and such. From what I have gathered he and Stoner are on fairly friendly terms and I can't help but wonder that maybe Spies is of the same mind as Stoner regarding the direction of the championship. Conversations to that end have most certainly been had between them as well as with others. It is no secret that Spies has never been a fan of living abroad in the circus-lifestyle that is GP nor is he a fan of GP politics within the paddock in general.



I guess my point is what if Spies really doesn't see the need to carry on in GP any further than 2012 in a way similar to Stoner? It is likely he would have a right difficult time winning a championship with Lorenzo around anyway...he already has a win and a few podiums at the GP level...more than most can say. So ...., maybe he is just biding his time and waiting to be replaced so he can move back to the states and onto other things that interest him. Maybe this is total ........, but I can't help but wonder who else in the paddock might be fed up with it all and wanting out.

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Well stated. Many of the same thoughts have been floating freely between my ears...



Sitting here on my fat ..., typing away, I've no clue if Spies has somehow already burned himself out somewhat. He does seem a little too 'chill' regarding his recent issues, and seems to lack the maniacal focus found in most title contenders. I root for him because he seems a decent enough chap, but also wonder how long he'll be around.

Quote K4Kevo,,,I can't seem to wrap my mind around why Spies seems so preoccupied with "other things"...namely his cycling team and other interests. You would never know he was a GP racer if only by following his tweets and such. From what I have gathered he and Stoner are on fairly friendly terms and I can't help but wonder that maybe Spies is of the same mind as Stoner regarding the direction of the championship. Conversations to that end have most certainly been had between them as well as with others. It is no secret that Spies has never been a fan of living abroad in the circus-lifestyle that is GP nor is he a fan of GP politics within the paddock in general.



I guess my point is what if Spies really doesn't see the need to carry on in GP any further than 2012 in a way similar to Stoner? It is likely he would have a right difficult time winning a championship with Lorenzo around anyway...he already has a win and a few podiums at the GP level...more than most can say. So ...., maybe he is just biding his time and waiting to be replaced so he can move back to the states and onto other things that interest him. Maybe this is total ........, but I can't help but wonder who else in the paddock might be fed up with it all and wanting out.







I think you may have cracked it,time will tell.

I started racing at the club level in the late 1980's and after a couple years I called it a show. There was nothing like the thrill of racing moto but after seeing every dime I had go into a machine that could be wadded into a worthless chunk a scrap, the decision was easy and I was never going to go above club level anyway. The real kicker was the unsafe USA tracks and watching multiple people being choppered out with life threatening injuries because of it. I realized I really like to ride my mountain bike and ski and I could do that at a fairly advanced level for the next 25 years without spending all my disposable income. Have not regretted the decision one bit. Now if I had been in an income bracket of a sheik things may have continued for a few more years of course.



But I can see spies thinking this is just a job and I am going to ride the wave as long as it lasts but I am not going to .... myself up for the fans or the team. I mean these guys are young and if you enjoy other things in life other than standing on the box and big $$$ then more power to yah.



Wouldn't be a bad strategy to ride factory for a couple years get bumped to a satellite team or some lower tier series and laugh under your breath at all the people bitching about your performance (because you are really disposable to them anyway) and then packing your .... and leaving with all your faculties in working order and go enjoy the many other great sports in life.



Look at Doohan, he is a legend and it's proly perfectly fine for him to deal with the injuries as the price glory. But for some guys that is a ...... way to finish out life.

Yeah, Doohan looks pretty rough these days. He will be remembered for a long time, but has paid for it. I sure a picture years ago - the pic was taken of Doohan walking in a pair of shorts - he had no (or extremely little) calf muscle in one leg. He has been pretty beaten-up! He was one tough MF...

As for Ben, I haven't given up on the guy. I reckon he rode well last weekend. I think his tyres just fell apart which may not be his fault. He may come good yet. He had better hurry up about it though...

I have not given up on Spies either. It's funny the rubes on here dissing Spies just after the race when it was obvious so many were having tire issues. Spies dropped 2 seconds on one lap. What do jack wagons think here? "Oh he just .... himself, cause Dovi showed up, and now can't ride fast for the the rest of the race".



The guy can ride at the front. He is having some management issues now whether they be personal, technical or both he has a chance to sort them out before seasons end. Even if he doesn't get it done until the last few races.



He does seem a bit uptight in interviews though. Like he is afraid of saying something dumb or something. I say loosen up.

Why is there no justice in this world? if Cal or Dovi had had the factory bike they would have been gone and not stuck with the human ....... road block that is Ben Spies,he will keep that ride for promo purposes and that is a joke shop.

I still think Ben will be on the factory yamaha next year

Willski said:

I still think Ben will be on the factory yamaha next year

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probably.....but would that be a big that was made at the yamaha factory......like Dovi's or Cal's old bike? or one racing in WSBK or AMA?

Saw those tweets too...Spies seems pretty even-handed regarding Dovi. Good on him.

Ben Spies, although a good rider, to me....... has always seem to be mentally weak. Perhaps it has something to do with his mother always by his side not giving him any room to breathe, making him feel like he's not his own man.



I mean, who the hell would want a ...., what's her face..... the girl that rode the machine on the Howard Stern Show and came, and call her your girlfriend? That to me spells someone who is a boy and insecure.



Anyways..... Spies is spiraling down-hill, mentally fading away. I just can't see him pulling out of it, though I think he might still be on the factory Yamaha next year.

Spies has just had some rotten luck this season. I think he has it in him to win at least one race this season and I bet he'll be on the podium at Mugello. The first 5 races were a disaster, but the last 3 he has been top 5, so we'll see what happens.

mike02467 said:

Spies has just had some rotten luck this season.

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Sadly with Spies I think thats the real problem ......... luck.



He needs to find a way to ride past "luck" and not make it figure in the equation.



As i see it Spies relies on "luck" too much, and thats why its not working for him.

BarryMachine said:

Sadly with Spies I think thats the real problem ......... luck.



He needs to find a way to ride past "luck" and not make it figure in the equation.



As i see it Spies relies on "luck" too much, and thats why its not working for him.

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That just might be it, I've never heard to much about his work ethic but even the most talented riders on the grid have had to improve areas of their riding when they got to the top level. CS for example who probably has the most raw talent on the grid and is described as being an animal on anything will tell you that he's had to work hard to get good at corner entry.

The big question is, what has changed him? Cos I don't think he was like that when he first came in?