Spies has impressive outing on Rizla Suzuki

[Randy]

https://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=11578

 

[feejer222]

I can't for the life of me understand why he hasnt made the move. I am sure he would run top ten on the right bike, maybe higher.

 

[Randy]

I can't for the life of me understand why he hasnt made the move. I am sure he would run top ten on the right bike, maybe higher.

Many have gone fast on superbikes only to struggle a bit with the MotoGP platform. Hell, Kurtis Roberts is a former AMA Supersport and Formula Extreme champion (back when Formula Extreme was big bore) and has AMA superbike wins.

I don't doubt that he would run top ten or higher, but, prior to this test, I think he was an unproven commodity. These 30 laps showed that he has potential and I wouldn't be surprised if 2008 is his last year in the US. I also wouldn't be surprised to see him as a wildcard in the 2 US rounds of MotoGP.

 

[NoCage]

Selfishly, I would hate to see him make the jump to MotoGP. I've really enjoyed watching him race Superbike, especially in person at Barber. It had gotten boring with Matt Mladin walking away from the field every race... "Elbows" Spies changed that. I'm guessing Mladin would love to see Ben go to MotoGP. :bye:

 

[Randy]

Yeah - hate to see him go, but, it's been fun watching him come up through the ranks. I've been watching him since the late 90s when he was doing the WERA circuit.

 

[feejer222]

I can't for the life of me understand why he hasnt made the move. I am sure he would run top ten on the right bike, maybe higher.

Many have gone fast on superbikes only to struggle a bit with the MotoGP platform. Hell, Kurtis Roberts is a former AMA Supersport and Formula Extreme champion (back when Formula Extreme was big bore) and has AMA superbike wins.

I don't doubt that he would run top ten or higher, but, prior to this test, I think he was an unproven commodity. These 30 laps showed that he has potential and I wouldn't be surprised if 2008 is his last year in the US. I also wouldn't be surprised to see him as a wildcard in the 2 US rounds of MotoGP.

Good point. It is a big issue here about how our national racing is as good as world level (SBK) and we attract top foriegn riders every year. Our home grown boys however can only cut it in WSBK and never seem to be able to make the jump to GP. There is a lot to be said about moving abroad early.

This season will be the first since the world championships began in 1949 that no British rider has scored in the premier class, according to Martin Raines, MotoGP's official statistician.

Britain has provideded 17 of the 29 500cc champions until 1977, when Barry Sheene was our last hero. Since then we've hit the doldrums, and we're getting even worse.

Thank goodness for James Toseland, who had the balls to get out of British racing when he was 17, and will be repaid with a place in MotoGP in 2008.