Ben Spies has said that he has seen Stoner do things that he doesn,t understand, or that the other aliens haven,t done. Could he be more specific. ie What is it that he does that is different?
Now that Stoner has left Ducati and Rossi has left Yamaha- ask these two how they rank the aliens -try to get more than generalities, try to get concrete ranking (1,2,3,4). I suspect Hayden will feel obliged to talk Rossi up, and likewise Ben about Horhey, but see what they say anyway.
Ok, I saw Ben at the show. I had lots of time to ask him questions actually. Friday is a slow day of the three-day show, and not too many people attend. Add the fact that it was raining, and in California, rain is like kryptonite for people going out. Infact there was a time where after the line died down, he was actually just sitting there waiting for people to come by and ask for autographs. I had the opportunity to ask him several questions. My respect and admiration for the guy has gone way up. But also, I detected a few other things that I didn't like from observing the whole dynamic. For one, a couple of guys next to him were .......... And two, his mom, no comment. Which actually made me feel sorry for Ben.
I asked him several questions, he was very friendly and wanted to answer me, but was sometimes at a loss for words (and several interruptions by certain .........).
Disclaimer: I'm paraphrasing here, not direct quotes. I tried to remember as much as I could. I spoke the answers into my phone after I walked away. So no, these are not exactly mine or his words, but pretty close.
First question: 1. Jeremy Burgess just mentioned that unless you get more power that you might have a difficult season. Yet the bike hasn't ever really been at the top of speed charts, sometimes very low actually, but the riders have managed to post good finishes. So how much truth is there in Burgess' assessment? Is this a mind game?
Ben: (Laugh, and smiles) Well the bike handles very well. Its very stable and it does a lot of things right. But yeah, we need more motor for sure.
My follow up: Yeah, but both factory riders have been able to win and podium while being below the top ten in speed. Is it just a speed trap thing rather than a lack of power?
Ben: No, for sure its lacking power. (Nods) We're gonna need more motor.
Second question: 2. Do you guys have a mechanism in place for developing the tire? How does Bridgestone take cues from the riders? Do they take cues from all the riders or just a select few?
Ben: They take feedback from the fast ones. I'd say pretty much everybody gets to give them feed back, for sure the top ten.
Follow up: Ah yes, but how do they take the cues, is there a process?
Ben: They basically take feedback from us. The tire rep takes down notes.
Follow up: So do you have a way of knowing if they are listening to you? How do you know if the development is going toward your feedback or away from it? I guess what I'm saying is, just how even handed are they listening to ALL the riders?
Ben: Well, like I said, they listen to the fast ones. (smiles and laughs). But I think they listen to several people and seems fair.
Follow up: How do you know?
Ben: Because it suppose to be fair. (we both laugh) You just trust it is.
Third question: I've read and heard where you mention that you are particularly impressed with Stoner. I have a buddy who wants to know specifically, what is it that is so impressive about his riding?
Ben: (And this is the only for sure quote that you can take to the bank) Reply: (Looks me in the eye, with a pause, he says) "He is fast!" (Then continues looking at me, saying nothing.)
Follow up: Yes, but what is it, the way he charges the corners or comes out of them, or the flex you see in his bikes, his position, what?
Ben: (both shaking head and nodding) "The guy is fast."
(I looked at him with an expression like, give me more dude, but he didn't he just repeated). "He's fast."
My apology, but I couldn't get more out of him).
Fourth question: What kind of tequila do you drink, I read its Patron?
Ben: Different ones, but yeah mostly Patron.
Follow up: Have you tried 'Don Julio'?
Ben: Yeah, its pretty good.
(Then I had a few more words with him that I'd like to keep private.)
Spies at HJC booth (........ white shirt in the background)
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Spies and me at HJC
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I took this pic while Spies signed something for somebody on this site. TBA
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