Capi to miss Donington

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How about direct from MotoGP.com:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Rizla Suzuki have confirmed that Ben Spies will step in for Loris Capirossi at the bwin.com British Grand Prix.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Spies+c...Donington+debut

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mjpartyboy @ Jun 12 2008, 02:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>How about direct from MotoGP.com:


http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Spies+c...Donington+debut
well motogp.com is a more reliable source of info than mcn

has spies ever ridden donny ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 12 2008, 08:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>well motogp.com is a more reliable source of info than mcn

has spies ever ridden donny ?

nope...gonna be great!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Jun 12 2008, 02:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>nope...gonna be great!
ill give him as far as redgate then he may have some wet race experience but does he have aircraft fuel on the track experience seriously tho, im looking forward to watching him race and hope he does well.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 12 2008, 08:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ill give him as far as redgate then he may have some wet race experience but does he have aircraft fuel on the track experience seriously tho, im looking forward to watching him race and hope he does well.

he won't be last

Even if he is...he's under no pressure....just got to get a feel for old girl and get ready for La Guna.

Spies at Motogp.com
"I haven´t done any testing on the bike or with race and qualifying tyres so I am not really expected to do anything much, so I can just go out there and learn how everything works and enjoy the event. This will be good for when we get back to the wildcard races in Laguna and Indianapolis because I know those tracks and I´ll have some knowledge of the bike and be able to put my head down and go for it there"

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Jun 12 2008, 05:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>he won't be last

Even if he is...he's under no pressure....just got to get a feel for old girl and get ready for La Guna.

Spies at Motogp.com
"I haven´t done any testing on the bike or with race and qualifying tyres so I am not really expected to do anything much, so I can just go out there and learn how everything works and enjoy the event. This will be good for when we get back to the wildcard races in Laguna and Indianapolis because I know those tracks and I´ll have some knowledge of the bike and be able to put my head down and go for it there"

I like his attitude.

First time on a GP bike? I thought that he rode it once before but anyway, new bike, new track, new tires, possibly wet. I don't really expect much from him this race. Some of these boys have been working on getting their setup right all season long, so its going to be a little tough considering he only has two days. I hope he does well, only thing I would be dissappointed about is if he didn't beat West, everything else would be just gravy

GO SPIES

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Jun 12 2008, 09:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I like his attitude.

First time on a GP bike? I thought that he rode it once before but anyway, new bike, new track, new tires, possibly wet. I don't really expect much from him this race. Some of these boys have been working on getting their setup right all season long, so its going to be a little tough considering he only has two days. I hope he does well, only thing I would be dissappointed about is if he didn't beat West, everything else would be just gravy

GO SPIES

He ran a few laps at Valencia last year with Schwantz...thats bout it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Jun 12 2008, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I like his attitude.

First time on a GP bike? I thought that he rode it once before but anyway, new bike, new track, new tires, possibly wet. I don't really expect much from him this race. Some of these boys have been working on getting their setup right all season long, so its going to be a little tough considering he only has two days. I hope he does well, only thing I would be dissappointed about is if he didn't beat West, everything else would be just gravy
If Okada, who hadn't raced anything for about 8 years, can beat the guys holding up the bottom of the grid then I'd reckon that Spies can too.

Best of luck Spies.

ok, this might be in "lex-land" but here goes a theory or 2....

Spies is obviously on dornas list of "we want him in motogp now" riders as his name has been around the paddock for a season or two now.
is he the next big american drawcard? and if so, what does that mean for Hayden? he used to be it until 2007 happened...
if so, then this must mean that hayden is on his way out, as referred to by colin, and on his way to a ducati seat in WSB.
speaking of,colin has not been in the american publics conciousness for a long time now and is also nearing retirement age so is not a long term marketing tool (plus the zero wins thing aint helping!).

the reason i ask is because suzuki have IMO had to make an odd choice. it should have been aoki who got to fill capirexs seat mainly due to spies being in the middle of a championship and already confirmed as a wildcard for 2 races.
This is not to say spies doesnt deserve the ride,he does, just that the logistics dont add up

aoki-san has done a few races and is no slouch so why not give him the ride whilst Ben wins a championship?

are there underhand marketing deals going on here? and IMO vermuelens ride for next year just got nixed....

any takers on this?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigAl @ Jun 12 2008, 12:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ok, this might be in "lex-land" but here goes a theory or 2....

Spies is obviously on dornas list of "we want him in motogp now" riders as his name has been around the paddock for a season or two now.
is he the next big american drawcard? and if so, what does that mean for Hayden? he used to be it until 2007 happened...
if so, then this must mean that hayden is on his way out, as referred to by colin, and on his way to a ducati seat in WSB.
speaking of,colin has not been in the american publics conciousness for a long time now and is also nearing retirement age so is not a long term marketing tool (plus the zero wins thing aint helping!).

the reason i ask is because suzuki have IMO had to make an odd choice. it should have been aoki who got to fill capirexs seat mainly due to spies being in the middle of a championship and already confirmed as a wildcard for 2 races.
This is not to say spies doesnt deserve the ride,he does, just that the logistics dont add up

aoki-san has done a few races and is no slouch so why not give him the ride whilst Ben wins a championship?

are there underhand marketing deals going on here? and IMO vermuelens ride for next year just got nixed....

any takers on this?

Negative. Suzuki haven't won a race in the dry in the 4-stroke era. They aren't able to pull from the established "best" (250 winners and champs) so they have to operate in the superbike realm to find good riders.

Ben has more hype and marketing support around him than anyone else right now and he rides for Suzuki. I suppose you could argue Neukirchner is pretty hot right now too, but if choosing between marketing motorcycles to Americans or Germans the decision is easy.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Jun 12 2008, 10:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>if choosing between marketing motorcycles to Americans or Germans the decision is easy.

Good point, Suzuki sells very well in the States.

In regards to Spies, best of luck to him. I just hope he doesn't get too comfortable/confident and start turning up the gas too much and have himself a low side. If he follows his own philosophy on race day, he will have a good ride.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigAl @ Jun 12 2008, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>and IMO vermuelens ride for next year just got nixed....

Been wondering about Vermy myself too, his performance this year has been less then stellar. Suzuki messed something up perhaps on this years package? Hopper had their best year last year on a 4 stroke zook, before deciding to be an advertising/development rider for Big Green. Vermy was an excellent WSBK rider, would love to see him back there, but I'm sure Suzuki are going to give him another year in GP. I'm really surprised Suzuki hasn't been able to do well yet with a Moto GP bike, they do awesome in superbike.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Jun 12 2008, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Been wondering about Vermy myself too, his performance this year has been less then stellar. Suzuki messed something up perhaps on this years package? Hopper had their best year last year on a 4 stroke zook, before deciding to be an advertising/development rider for Big Green. Vermy was an excellent WSBK rider, would love to see him back there, but I'm sure Suzuki are going to give him another year in GP. I'm really surprised Suzuki hasn't been able to do well yet with a Moto GP bike, they do awesome in superbike.

zooki are going forwards in moto gp in small steps...

problem is that everyone else except kawasaki are taking big ....... steps...
it wouldnt surprise me to see vermy on a satellite honda next year....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Jun 12 2008, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Been wondering about Vermy myself too, his performance this year has been less then stellar. Suzuki messed something up perhaps on this years package? Hopper had their best year last year on a 4 stroke zook, before deciding to be an advertising/development rider for Big Green. Vermy was an excellent WSBK rider, would love to see him back there, but I'm sure Suzuki are going to give him another year in GP. I'm really surprised Suzuki hasn't been able to do well yet with a Moto GP bike, they do awesome in superbike.

A few places behind his team mate is not that bad.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigAl @ Jun 13 2008, 07:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>zooki are going forwards in moto gp in small steps...

problem is that everyone else except kawasaki are taking big ....... steps...
it wouldnt surprise me to see vermy on a satellite honda next year....

CV is on a 1st year of a 2 year deal....though he has talked about getting out early if things do not change/improve....

Spies needs the Yosh / best package to win, so short of him going to Malboro Ducati / Repsol Honda / Fiat Yamaha then he is going to be another Hopper (e.g. 7 years and 4 podiums and no wins, and no hope of either this year).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Jun 13 2008, 12:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>CV is on a 1st year of a 2 year deal....though he has talked about getting out early if things do not change/improve....

Spies needs the Yosh / best package to win, so short of him going to Malboro Ducati / Repsol Honda / Fiat Yamaha then he is going to be another Hopper (e.g. 7 years and 4 podiums and no wins, and no hope of either this year).
Do you think its an issue of talent or package for Hopper & Vermy?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Jun 13 2008, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Spies needs the Yosh / best package to win, so short of him going to Malboro Ducati / Repsol Honda / Fiat Yamaha then he is going to be another Hopper (e.g. 7 years and 4 podiums and no wins, and no hope of either this year).

care to place a wager on that

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jun 13 2008, 08:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Do you think its an issue of talent or package for Hopper & Vermy?

CV - I think it is a bit of both, and possibly more lack of talent (60/40)....

Hopper - It is all package so far...this is due to lack of his testing (obvously not his fautl)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Jun 13 2008, 08:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>care to place a wager on that

You wanna bet that Spies will win a race on the Suzuki MotoGP machine in the next 7 years?