Spies deal done

Ben Spies will be riding with Yamaha Motor Italia squad in WSBK next year.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wsbk/news/...for_yamaha.html

done deal..one step closer to taking Colins seat...He'll win the SBK Championship in 09...then go to MotoGP and win the Championship there....then bang Stoners girl Texas style in his trailer

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081001b.htm


Ben Spies signs with Yamaha WSB for 2009
By James Keen

World Superbikes

01 October 2008 10:47


American rider Ben Spies has signed with the Yamaha factory WSB Team to partner 23 yr old British rider Tom Sykes for the 2009 season.

The 24yr old American rider from Dallas is fresh from a record third championship win in a row, taking the AMA Superbike Championship crown again for 2008. Spies is only the fourth rider in the history of AMA Superbike to win three consecutive titles and 3rd on the all-time AMA Superbike wins list with a total of 28 AMA Superbike wins.

Alongside his AMA success, Spies has also had some good results in MotoGP. In 2008 he started in place of injured Loris Capirossi at the British GP, finishing in 14th place. He had a further 2 wildcard outings, achieving 8th at Laguna Seca and 6th at Indianapolis.

“I’m very excited about joining Yamaha in World Superbike,” Spies said. “This is a positive step for the direction of my career. I’ll have a great opportunity to race on many of the top road racing circuits in the world. Riding with a company as passionate about racing as Yamaha is going to put me in a good position to contest for a world championship right from the start.”

“Superbike racing originated in America, but it’s been a while since we’ve had an American world champion. There’s a great tradition of American riders in World Superbike and I hope to put my name alongside great champions like Fred Merkel, Doug Polen, Scott Russell, John Kocinski and Colin Edwards. “

“After considering my offers it became obvious to me that Yamaha would be a great home. Yamaha was excited about the possibility of me joining them and they just made me feel like I was coming into a great family.

"You look at how Yamaha treats its riders and how, even after their careers are over, they’re always part of the Yamaha family. That was really important to me. I’m looking forward to the challenge at hand and to work with Yamaha to produce a winning team and ultimately a World Superbike Championship.”

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha’s factory Superbike Team Manager, had this to say: “We’re really enthusiastic to have signed Ben Spies for the 2009 team. He’s proved to be a very skilful and successful rider in AMA Superbike, he has been one of the riders we have followed closely this year.

"We are sure he will be a great combination with Tom Sykes, the team are looking forward to starting with them both next year. There will be a lot to learn with new circuits and new bikes but we also have new motivation as a fresh team and will give 200% to help the riders win in 2009”.

I'm soo glad he made the jump.

yeah in the yam fold now.kool

Awesome news.

I still can't understand Suzuki letting him go so easily and re-signing Capirossi.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stevo @ Oct 1 2008, 09:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Awesome news.

I still can't understand Suzuki letting him go so easily and re-signing Capirossi.

Capirossi is a proven GP champ, winner, good development rider and great racer, and has a worldwide fan base....and very hot wife

Spies has won no world titles, 3 AMA (Yosh Series Cup), and has no worldwide fan base....and has some weird love / attachement to his mom

Good luck to Ben...this is more about proving to himself he is good enough than to his fans....I am sure Haga is going to him a great shock when he passes Spies in ways and places Ben did not think possible...

I hope the 09 R1 is competitive right from the start and lack of track knowledge doesn't hamper the riders too much. That's a great young team there.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Oct 2 2008, 08:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Capirossi is a proven GP champ, winner, good development rider and great racer, and has a worldwide fan base....and very hot wife

Good point about Cappers, I still think Ben would have outperformed Cappers and Vermi, but as we all know there are more things to MotoGP then just race performance, especially in the mid ranks.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Oct 2 2008, 08:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>has some weird love / attachement to his mom

Hahaha, moving to WSBK is going to be a big move for Spies, hopefully his manager (mom) won't be a hindrance.

I am happy to see him wave goodbye to the AMA and not make a big stink about not getting a ride in MotoGP. It's going to be great to see an American back in WSBK again, I hope he keeps a positive attitude and focuses on improving.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Oct 1 2008, 07:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>done deal..one step closer to taking Colins seat...He'll win the SBK Championship in 09...then go to MotoGP and win the Championship there....then bang Stoners girl Texas style in his trailer

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081001b.htm


Ben Spies signs with Yamaha WSB for 2009
By James Keen

World Superbikes

01 October 2008 10:47


American rider Ben Spies has signed with the Yamaha factory WSB Team to partner 23 yr old British rider Tom Sykes for the 2009 season.

The 24yr old American rider from Dallas is fresh from a record third championship win in a row, taking the AMA Superbike Championship crown again for 2008. Spies is only the fourth rider in the history of AMA Superbike to win three consecutive titles and 3rd on the all-time AMA Superbike wins list with a total of 28 AMA Superbike wins.

Ive actually been to his condo (looks nothing like my trailer though. He's pretty cool dude though

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kngadrok @ Oct 2 2008, 11:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ive actually been to his condo (looks nothing like my trailer though. He's pretty cool dude though

$2 mil a season and all that dude has is a condo? Was that number fabricated?

Glad Spies has made the move to WSBK. Looking forward to seeing the Yam team next year with Ben and our boy Tom.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Oct 2 2008, 12:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Capirossi is a proven GP champ, winner, good development rider and great racer, and has a worldwide fan base....and very hot wife

Spies has won no world titles, 3 AMA (Yosh Series Cup), and has no worldwide fan base....and has some weird love / attachement to his mom

Suzuki should still have found a way to make something work with at least the Alstare team. Although that trio is a mess sports politics, with each rider having his value in sponsorship dollars and nationality, something could have worked. A fourth factory bike may have done the job if suzuki was willing to pay the bill.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Oct 2 2008, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>$2 mil a season and all that dude has is a condo? Was that number fabricated?
It's a RIDICULOUS condo in a terrific location. Just plain SICK

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Oct 2 2008, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hahaha, moving to WSBK is going to be a big move for Spies, hopefully his manager (mom) won't be a hindrance.

Do you wonder if Spies takes his mom round the US in case he gets a bit peckish....Bitty!?!

Ben 'Bitty' Spies!!!

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/meeting-...ents/1930861423

I'm aghast that in the light of Suzuki's decision not to secure Spies, that no one else in the GP paddock was ardently clamouring for his signature, this is a huge oversight.

In spite of this, I've always thought Meregali runs a tight ship, and this is a good move for both Sykes and Spies. I do think that where this is a necessary and a progressive step for the career of Tom Sykes, Spies was demonstrably ready and good enough to graduate straight to a ride in Grand Prix, and his services could have been obtained for a fraction of the cost of a rider like Hopper. Yet more Moto GP myopia I'm afraid.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Oct 4 2008, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm aghast that in the light of Suzuki's decision not to secure Spies, that no one else in the GP paddock was ardently clamouring for his signature, this is a huge oversight....... and his services could have been obtained for a fraction of the cost of a rider like Hopper. Yet more Moto GP myopia I'm afraid.

Good point....and maybe teams have learned the Hopper lesson....and are not willing to take chances to hire talked up riders.....Let 'Bitty' prove himself on the international scene in WSBK then maybe somoene will be willing to take a chance on him....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Oct 4 2008, 08:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm aghast that in the light of Suzuki's decision not to secure Spies, that no one else in the GP paddock was ardently clamouring for his signature, this is a huge oversight.

In spite of this, I've always thought Meregali runs a tight ship, and this is a good move for both Sykes and Spies. I do think that where this is a necessary and a progressive step for the career of Tom Sykes, Spies was demonstrably ready and good enough to graduate straight to a ride in Grand Prix, and his services could have been obtained for a fraction of the cost of a rider like Hopper. Yet more Moto GP myopia I'm afraid.
What a great post!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Oct 4 2008, 08:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>have learned the Hopper lesson....and are not willing to take chances to hire talked up riders.....


There is nothing you ever say good about American riders Migs. You hate all of them and never give them credit. What lesson was to be learned from a guy like Hopper that took the pig of the machine Suzuki to a 4th classification? The fact that Suzuki didn't sign Spies should give you a clue as to where this ...... team has it sights. It’s mid pack all the way.

What would posses a team to resign a nice guy who has zero chance in winning a title like Capi? To develop? Ok, fine, sign him to develop then, but not while on the race grid. Or if you do want him to develop, then do so while having a teammate that is potentially gonna take your team somewhere other than the midpack that Vermi is sure to do. While Vermi is getting his ... kicked by Capi (keep in mind Capi was hurt this year and would account for the difference in points); Vermi's hasn't had success that is worthwhile on an inferior machine (despite that wet win). This team had zero commitment to field a championship contending machine. Hopper found this out the hard way by giving them several good youthful years. Kawasaki promised the world and backed it up with a paycheck. Kawasaki has not been able to deliver a great machine, but that is not for lack of trying. Now they have Melandri, another great rider.

Meanwhile, what have Suzuki done in that span of time, they sign the oldest guy who nobody will give a chance realistically to win a title, and he is the better of the two riders! Vermi is as good as Nakano. This is the indication of how committed Suzuki is. They have zero chance next year. Now contrast that with teams who are taking gambles with young riders. At very least they are taking a gamble of either failing or improving, while Suzuki is content in more of the same mid pack sorry ... performances of a manufacture. The start grid almost never sees a Suzuki in the top three before the start of the race. Kawasaki, like them at very least are signing riders who have that potential. Vermi qualled 15th at his home GP! Suzuki is a ....... joke.

And now you want to say teams have learned their lesson over signing an expensive rider like Hopper? Who the hell twisted the arms of Kawasaki to pay him? And this is Hopper’s fault? Kawasaki was willing to improve their combo by hiring a very good rider, problem has been they have not got their bike sorted out. Suzuki have don nothing, zero, to improve. Obviously you admire mediocrity. I have ten times the respect for Kawasaki than Suzuki. They may be failing, but it is clear they are trying! UNLIKE Suzuki who are content on fielding their "development" rider on the racing grid, and their junior rider who can't even best the "old" man on a consistent bases. The failure here is not Hopper, who should be applauded for his move away from a team with questionable commitment, but rather Suzuki, who only have ever won anything by way of a titles thanks to two Americans who were outstanding riders. (Yeah, migs, Americans, you know, the nationality you love to hate).

These fools again had the opportunity to sign a guy who wasn’t much of a mystery as to how he might do in MotoGP (he proved that in his three outstanding wildcards). Spies had steadily improved all his wildcard races, to calumniate in embarrassing the two regular team riders. Suzuki is not poor financially speaking; they are after all a full factory team who only field two bikes. So its not like their resources are spread thin. They had plenty in reserve to make a reasonable offer. Sure perhaps they didn’t want to give the kid 2 mil, but contrast that with the likely performance that Vermi/Capi are going to give them, and the money doesn’t seem so bad. On top of that, just having Spies on the team would have done wonders to the value of sponsorship they could sell on the bike. What better than for an added audience to tune in just for the sake of curiosity of seeing how the AMA champ might fair.

Let me ask you migs, do you really think Capi will be racing in 2010? Do you think Capi will win a title in 2009? So then why even sign the guy, if you could very well do that as a true development rider outside the racing line? I’m not even gonna ask you about Vermi, who has been a total waste of talent. If he doesn’t win a title next year, why keep the guy? On now with the revelation that Kawasaki is fielding a third bike, this should be another indication to you where this brand has its intentions. That is right, while Kawasaki are increasing thier investments into the racing enterprise, Suzuki is shrinking. Why might this be? Perhaps its because Kawasaki want to win. While they are expanding, Suzuki are imploding. Hopkins saw this while he was in the best position to realize where Suzkui was headed.

Let me ask you something, do you know why Supercross/Motocross is a young man's sport? The answer is, because it is necessary for bodies to heal quickly after injury. Its fairly thesame thing in roadracing, accept thre riders bodies don't have quite the same wear and tear in the race as the dirt boys do. The relevance here is that Capi, though a good racer still, is one injury away from mailing in a season. Now, if Suzuki are not aware of this, then their judgement is called into question. If they know this but are still willing to sign him, then their commitment for a championship is called into question. Oh, as far as Vermi; if you want to compare him to Hopper, we can, while on equal equipment Vermi got beat consistently over a season.

Suzuki are stupid, Hopper saw that and left. Suzuki didn’t sign Spies because the ..... Paul Deming didn’t FEEL Ben was nice enough to him. .... Suzuki and Deming and all those sorry ... decisions they make to field filler on the grid. They will continue to be .... and make zero attempts to improve themselves unless they wake up and take a gamble.

Maybe yamaha want to bring him to motogp next year when Edwards leaves?

I am aware that some see Spies as having been 'shafted' a bit by Suzuki who really are a team going nowhere (IMO) not all of which ist he fault of the riders.

But, do we know for certain that Spies wanted MGP for 2009?

Do we know for certain that he wanted Suzuki?

Or, was he playing a game to get recognised on the world stage from where better opportunities than Suzuki would open up?

IMO, Suzuki are not a team to head to if you are a rider who wants to make a mark at world level. Whilst I am a fan of Vermuelen (hey, he is Aussie) I feel that he would have been best elsewhere as Suzuki have achieved nothing (realistically) in performance and results terms in the four stroke era (Vermi's wet win excepted).




Garry