Suzuki trying to get Spies into GP for '08

Just read this little blurb and was pretty shocked. Zook hoping to add two more bikes to the grid next season with bikes being run by Schwantz and the rider being Ben Spies.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>In addition to their two factory machines, they’re supposed to be preparing a third GSV-R for Team Aspar (a respected Spanish outfit that fields a 125cc Grand Prix team), and Italian weekly Moto Sprint reported this week that the manufacturer is talking to Kevin Schwantz about playing a major role in a team based around a fourth bike. If the plan goes through—and it’s only in very preliminary stages—it would field AMA Superbike champ Ben Spies as the rider, with financing from a group of American investors. Schwantz was in Le Mans with a representative from an Austin company, so let’s hope their research goes well.

Wow, now that's news. I hope it becomes reality. Anything involving Kevin Schwantz gots to be good.

More bikes in motogp is great news. The possibility that one could be Ben Spies on a Suzuki run by Kevin Schwantz is even better news. I hope it's true and it works out.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ May 29 2007, 05:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow, now that's news. I hope it becomes reality. Anything involving Kevin Schwantz gots to be good.
im sure it would be a good team under schwantz, i dont want to sound like a zenophobe but i hope we dont end up with an all american grid or any other nationality. if all of these extra ride do happen we will have
hayden
krjr
curtis
hopper
edwards
spies
not sure if ive forgoten anybody else.
as ive said before its a world championship so it should be played out accross the world by all nationalitys.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 29 2007, 06:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>im sure it would be a good team under schwantz, i dont want to sound like a zenophobe but i hope we dont end up with an all american grid or any other nationality. if all of these extra ride do happen we will have
hayden
krjr
curtis
hopper
edwards
spies
not sure if ive forgoten anybody else.
as ive said before its a world championship so it should be played out accross the world by all nationalitys.

Well i think the world championship should be ridden by the best riders on the best bikes. If the best riders come from the US then so be it, they are the best.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ May 29 2007, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well i think the world championship should be ridden by the best riders on the best bikes. If the best riders come from the US then so be it, they are the best.
ok i see your point ,trouble is most on my list are not the best by a long way.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 29 2007, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ok i see your point ,trouble is most on my list are not the best by a long way.

Well KRJR and Edwards on the way out, and curtis wont have a ride for long. Hoppers not bad and Hayden's a world champ. Spies might be good given the chance, but there are better riders out there. So i guess you have a good point.

I don't think it should matter rog. It just so happens that there's a lot of potential new sponsorship money in the US. Bring it on, the more the better. If you can raise the cash, can show up every week and qualify, you can race. The way it should be. This can only be good for racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ May 29 2007, 06:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't think it should matter rog. It just so happens that there's a lot of potential new sponsorship money in the US. Bring it on, the more the better. If you can raise the cash, can show up every week and qualify, you can race. The way it should be. This can only be good for racing.

Until they start demanding changes to suit there market

Take my word for it boys, Spies wont do half as well as Chris V or Hopper for at least 3 seasons with the gsv-r. His style is all point and shoot. I am friends with his telemtry guy and he says that spies is almost always at 95% of his fork travel at the apex of most corners. That means that he is still on the brakes hard at the apex which indicates point and shoot. I dont think he can ride fast any other way, I hope he disproves me. I just dont think he will be quick enough. They should put Josh Herrin in there, that kid has mad sack!

I never realised how many American riders there were on the grid! I always thought Italians were the dominant ones, but probably because the Americans are fairly evenly spread throughtout the grid whereas the Italians seem to be concentrated towards the top (Rossi, Capirossi, Melandri). Anyway, I guess there's a limited amount that Italian and Spanish sponsors can splash out, whereas America is an untapped market for that. Still, surprised to see that Aspar are planning on a 'Zuki for next year. I didn't realise it was going to be next year and for some reason I pictured them on an Aprilia designed MotoGP machine

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ May 29 2007, 06:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't think it should matter rog. It just so happens that there's a lot of potential new sponsorship money in the US. Bring it on, the more the better. If you can raise the cash, can show up every week and qualify, you can race. The way it should be. This can only be good for racing.
i agree if you qualify you can race,i guess im still pissed welcom and rio got dropped and we have 3 spanish races and were going to have 2 usa rounds, i just hope no nationality overwhelms the series in the riders or tracks.
for the record tho, if spies is as good as people say then i hope he does race in motogp.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 29 2007, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i agree if you qualify you can race,i guess im still pissed welcom and rio got dropped and we have 3 spanish races and were going to have 2 usa rounds, i just hope no nationality overwhelms the series in the riders or tracks.
for the record tho, if spies is as good as people say then i hope he does race in motogp.I've no real idea as to how AMA compares with BSB in terms of standard of racing. I guess you could argue that one all day but I can't see anyone coming to GP's and making a splash without knowing the tracks. Only one guy could do that. Could Kyonari come from BSB, jump on whatever he liked and be in the top five regularly? Not a chance. Could Spies? I doubt that too, definitely not in his first year. The real point is it won't hurt the ratings to have him there.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ May 29 2007, 06:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Until they start demanding changes to suit there market Tom don't be so suspicious! The Spanish will never let it happen anyway


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagle088 @ May 29 2007, 06:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Take my word for it boys, Spies wont do half as well as Chris V or Hopper for at least 3 seasons with the gsv-r. His style is all point and shoot. I am friends with his telemtry guy and he says that spies is almost always at 95% of his fork travel at the apex of most corners. That means that he is still on the brakes hard at the apex which indicates point and shoot. I dont think he can ride fast any other way, I hope he disproves me. I just dont think he will be quick enough. They should put Josh Herrin in there, that kid has mad sack! Put the telemetry guy in GP's right now! only messin eagle, how u doin?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ May 29 2007, 07:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> Tom don't be so suspicious! The Spanish will never let it happen anyway
now thats a bloody good point

i think he should run 250's for a year maybe 2..... he's a great ryder, but could use some track time on the GP tracks....while he learns, let Kevin race.

I agree. Somebody give Kevin a wildcard GSV-R sometime this season.

This is great news though, I really wanna see what Spies can do on the world stage. I've been a fan of his for a while now and I think he has what it takes to do well internationally. As mentioned though, he will need to refine his style. If you watch him race he really does just throw the thing into the corner point-and-shoot style and hope it hangs on to accelerate out. It usually does. Anyhow, I think he deserves a shot.

He is technically contracted to race for Yosh next season in AMA, but I'm sure since he'd be moving to another Suzuki it wouldn't be tooo hard to work out.

Nothing against Spies, but I honestly don't think he will make an impact. He's riding the best bike in the AMA series right now and still has to work his ... off to beat Mladin. His size will hamper his performance in MotoGP in my opinion as well, so that coupled with his point shoot style make it a tough road ahead for him. The good thing is a new team being added to Motogp.

if MCN are correct ............... Zuki might need Spies cos Kwak are trying to poach Vermuelen ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (baldylocks @ May 29 2007, 02:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>if MCN are correct ............... Zuki might need Spies cos Kwak are trying to poach Vermuelen ?

no...HOPPER.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ May 29 2007, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>no...HOPPER.
that's what I said