Ducati ponder Ben Spies swoop

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (evo9 @ Aug 6 2009, 06:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think you guy's may be missing something. If ducati is looking at Spies. They are not just looking at the rider alone. Spies will go with his two technicians. The very important tools ducati need to sort their bike out. It is clear at this stage ducati, has realized they have a bike problem.
AMA mechanics who worked on Suzuki's and Yams? Doubtful.
Spies is a phenomenal talent. However, Vermulen podiumed in Laguna (Ben was 8th). His best finish was 6th at INP (where he had logged 200+ laps on the Suzuki in testing).
I don't think Ben is better than Colin, Toesland, or Hayden. Lets hope he gets some real test rides at Valencia, Jerez and American and Japan rounds for 2010.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Aug 6 2009, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>AMA mechanics who worked on Suzuki's and Yams? Doubtful.
Spies is a phenomenal talent. However, Vermulen podiumed in Laguna (Ben was 8th). His best finish was 6th at INP (where he had logged 200+ laps on the Suzuki in testing).
I don't think Ben is better than Colin, Toesland, or Hayden. Lets hope he gets some real test rides at Valencia, Jerez and American and Japan rounds for 2010.

I don't know what Ben has to do to prove to you people that he is the real deal. He may need a little more experience but he has Top MOTOGP talent.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Aug 6 2009, 09:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't know what Ben has to do to prove to you people that he is the real deal. He may need a little more experience but he has Top MOTOGP talent.
i dont think anybody is saying Ben is not "the real deal", well maybe pinky but who takes any notice of that prick. But real deal or not where talking about him going on the career killing ducati, the bike several "real deal" riders have struggled on.. i think tech 3 is his best option. Funny how everyone is saing jt will have to go to make way for spies when last year and the year before you were all screeming for ce2 to give up his seat to a younger rider

edit: by you all im not pointing at you sacky, just happened to mention this fact while quote your post.

Ducati + Spies = The Real Deal. Wait and see people. Just wait.

Ben did respectable in his outings with Suzuki. However, just because you are fast on a Superbike doesn't mean you will be fast in GPs. Spies may very well break the curse, but the realistic situation is that no SBK champ has done much in GP for a while. This includes the almighty Bayliss. Is Spies faster than Bayliss on a Superbike? Would Spies be faster than Bayliss on a GP bike? Remember, Bayliss had the coveted RC211V/Michelin package and couldn't get much headway. Toseland is on the coveted M1 and struggling. Colin's a SBK rider, but he's been in GPs now for years. Who knows. It is interesting to note that we used to give rookies at least a year to learn the bike and tracks, etc., but now, everybody expects you to win or go home from the get go. Times sure have changed.

Anyway, it is entirely reasonable to question Spies' ability to do well on a GP machine. Nobody is saying he isn't fast or hasn't completely blown the SBK paddock away. "Unproven" simply means unproven, not "this guy sucks wtf go home haha alolomgwtfbbq"

Would it be nice to see Spies move to the top in GPs? Yes, because I personally believe that a SBK rider CAN go fast on a GP bike and I'm hoping someone shows up and proves me right. Maybe it'll be Spies.

+ 1

Just a wild guess how Ben Spies is thinking:
He tried the Suzuki to get a chance to show himself.He did very well.Gets a great Superbike deal,does a fantastic job,incredible.Everyone gets more and more interrested.

I don't think he will be taking any risks so to speak that could lower the high streak he is on.
In the end he is probarbly aiming for the ultimate factory deal in moto gp and winning the whole thing.
But i think Pramac Ducati is a too big risk.
Toselands seat would be way safer ,I think he could beat Colin a few times if he stays.And after that he can get in a position to get a better deal in moto gp.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Anders GUZZI @ Aug 7 2009, 08:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Just a wild guess how Ben Spies is thinking:
He tried the Suzuki to get a chance to show himself.He did very well.Gets a great Superbike deal,does a fantastic job,incredible.Everyone gets more and more interrested.

I don't think he will be taking any risks so to speak that could lower the high streak he is on.
In the end he is probarbly aiming for the ultimate factory deal in moto gp and winning the whole thing.
But i think Pramac Ducati is a too big risk.
Toselands seat would be way safer ,I think he could beat Colin a few times if he stays.And after that he can get in a position to get a better deal in moto gp.

Spies should stay in WSBK whether he is winning the championship or not this year. Toseland needs one more year to proof his worthiness in MotoGp.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (V5Stroker @ Aug 7 2009, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Spies should stay in WSBK whether he is winning the championship or not this year. Toseland needs one more year to proof his worthiness in MotoGp.
I think you meant to say...

Toseland needs one more year to proof his worthlessness in MotoGp.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mick D @ Aug 7 2009, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think you meant to say...

Toseland needs one more year to proof his worthlessness in MotoGp.



PI 08 was ok though, one bright moment in 2 years doesn't auger particularly well though.....hes not alone though plenty of dead wood in Motogp-Elias, Canepa, Talmashi, Sete if he comes back.......Suzuki!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (V5Stroker @ Aug 7 2009, 05:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Spies should stay in WSBK whether he is winning the championship or not this year. Toseland needs one more year to proof his worthiness in MotoGp.

Nah, two years is enough the way it's been going lately. There's plenty of progress, the wrong way.
Toseland is done. Why should Spies stay no matter what?

Ducati want to retain Haga and Fabrizio in 2010

By Michael Guy -

World Superbikes

06 August 2009 13:54

Xerox Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi say’s he wants to keep his current rider line-up of Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio in 2010. Tardozzi’s men currently sit first and third in the series standings having taken seven wins and 18 podiums between them. In fact there has been only one race out of 20 to date when a Xerox Ducati rider has not been on the podium (Brno race 1).

The only thorn in the side of Ducati has been Yamaha sensation Ben Spies who has single handily won 11 races and scored two further podiums and holds second in the standings. Paddock rumours have linked Spies to practically every manufacturer in MotoGP and WSB including the Xerox Ducati squad, but Tardozzi told MCN that he is happy with his current rider line-up.

He said: “Why would we want to change? Nori is Nori, he is a very special rider and Michel has shown us this year that he has what it takes to become a great rider in the future.”

again mcn

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Aug 7 2009, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nah, two years is enough the way it's been going lately. There's plenty of progress, the wrong way.
Toseland is done. Why should Spies stay no matter what?

JT is a double WSBK champion just like CE2. What happened to Bayliss, Vermin, Hodgson, Xaus, ? 800cc MotoGP suites 250 riders and with a Satellite ride, I doubt Spies will be on the podium regularly.

If he is offered with a factory HRC, Yam or Duc, then Spies can move to Moto GP.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (V5Stroker @ Aug 7 2009, 08:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>JT is a double WSBK champion just like CE2. What happened to Bayliss, Vermin, Hodgson, Xaus, ? 800cc MotoGP suites 250 riders and with a Satellite ride, I doubt Spies will be on the podium regularly.

If he is offered with a factory HRC, Yam or Duc, then Spies can move to Moto GP.

JT ...highest finish is a 6th. one front row start at losail in 2008.
CE2 podiums....quite a few of them.
CV one win and mumerous podiums. a pole in his first (rookie year) season and strong showings at a few tracks (laguna and san marino, if only turkey was still on the calendar).wet weather specialist.
Hodgson....d'antin rider, nothing to see here, move along...
Xaus D'antin rider, one podium at losail...

of all of those, who has the poorest record on a gp bike?
yep, its hodgson followed by JT. he has had the obligatory 2year trial and it has not worked yet. time to go...

and if spies is offered factory support from hrc, just say no, from yamaha, say yes and from ducati?
whos got a coin, we can flip for it!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Aug 7 2009, 01:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Basically Ducati have to pick from the mid pack or outside of the series. Who would you pick if you were Suppo? Kallio has shown he is simply on par with Hayden. Not a single rookie is going to be allowed on the factory team due to the new rule. So what does that leave them with?
I still believe that West is a good option for Ducati. He isn't a rookie and he has nothing to lose.

What are the chances of Ducati offering riders a secret test?

If I was Spies I would want a secret test of the bike. Who ever can concure the beats will be a living legend. Would be the perfect next step in Spies career and surely make him the talk of the bike world if he got on it and kicked arse.

If I was Ducati I would be lining up a list of hopefuls all called "The Stig" to find someone who can tame the beast.

Imagine Spies, Bautista, Barbera, West, Crutchlow, Aoyama, Hopkins and who ever else is worth a shot all standing trackside in white leathers and white helmut waiting for their turn!!!

If Spies is serious about a motogp career i think he needs to get here as soon as possible, even so i'm not sure if i'd be prepared to risk a Ducati ride. I guess it depends what else he's got on the table.

If spies isnt world sbk champ this year....i say he should stay there...no need to rush into gp's...however if he gets a decent ride for next year and is the champ at the end of this year, y not go for it

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP70 @ Aug 7 2009, 08:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If I was Spies I would want a secret test of the bike. Who ever can concure the beats will be a living legend. Would be the perfect next step in Spies career and surely make him the talk of the bike world if he got on it and kicked arse.
Actually as a current wsbk and non-motogp rider I don't think he would break any motogp rules by testing the ducati secretly or otherwise. Yamaha perhaps might not be best impressed though, and I can't precisely recall whether he has a contract or options in his or yamaha's favour for next year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Aug 7 2009, 03:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ducati want to retain Haga and Fabrizio in 2010

By Michael Guy -

World Superbikes

06 August 2009 13:54

Xerox Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi say’s he wants to keep his current rider line-up of Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio in 2010. Tardozzi’s men currently sit first and third in the series standings having taken seven wins and 18 podiums between them. In fact there has been only one race out of 20 to date when a Xerox Ducati rider has not been on the podium (Brno race 1).

The only thorn in the side of Ducati has been Yamaha sensation Ben Spies who has single handily won 11 races and scored two further podiums and holds second in the standings. Paddock rumours have linked Spies to practically every manufacturer in MotoGP and WSB including the Xerox Ducati squad, but Tardozzi told MCN that he is happy with his current rider line-up.

He said: “Why would we want to change? Nori is Nori, he is a very special rider and Michel has shown us this year that he has what it takes to become a great rider in the future.”

again mcn

I'm guessing that Spies has already turned Ducati down and/or Tardozzi intuits that Spies will be moving on next year - and wants to save face by not having to admit in public he'd been turned down. Haga is great - no doubt. But given a choice between a young, healthy world beater who hasn't reached his peak like Spies with the potential for increased marketing in the USA and beat-up, middle-aged Haga the eternal bride's maid - the choice would be obvious - if the choice were their's to make.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Aug 7 2009, 01:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Actually as a current wsbk and non-motogp rider I don't think he would break any motogp rules by testing the ducati secretly or otherwise. Yamaha perhaps might not be best impressed though, and I can't precisely recall whether he has a contract or options in his or yamaha's favour for next year.
No rules would be broken.
His contract is one year, he'a free agent on Jan 1 2010. He couldn't test before then without permission.

I really can't wait till Portimao!