Since our article on March 16, we haven’t been able to stop talking about how former AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies’ performance thus far as a rookie in the 2009 WSB series has been nothing short of spectacular! As he finds his way around tracks unfamiliar to him on his new Yamaha YZF R1, one has to wonder if the epic battles will continue through the season, or if it was just a bit of beginner’s luck …
Besides some darn good racing, what does this mean to you? Were you surprised Suzuki didn’t move him over to MotoGP? Do you believe he can win the WSB championship in his rookie year? There was no shortage of responses to these questions. Below is a sampling (unedited, as always) of the 160+ responses we received.
- Ben Spies has already proven to Suzuki what he is capable of. Yes, Suzuki made a HUGE mistake not putting this kid on a GP bike. With one season of testing, there is NO DOUBT that Ben Spies would WIPE THE FLOOR with either Vermuelen or Capirossi! NO DOUBT!! How do you let a two-time AMA Superbike Champion just walk away? And he wasn’t racing against chumps either, he proved himself against Matt Mladin who is arguably the best rider the AMA has ever seen (until Spies). I know Suzuki is probably wondering right now “what the hell did we do?” I hope that Yamaha sees what potential Ben has and does everything possible to give Ben the bike he needs to win the World Superbike Title. If Yamaha is smart, it won’t be long before they put him on a GP Bike. Ben is hungry right now and if Yamaha gives him the right incentive, there is no stopping him.
I must admit, though I knew Ben was going to do well in WSBK, he has certainly surprised me with his domination thus far. Or maybe, like many others, I just took for granted the level of talent we have here in the AMA. Either way WSBK is the series to watch right now. Go Ben!!!! - No question Spies should have been given a GP ride. If the GP factory teams are smart they’ll go after both he and Maladin. This just shows how great those two really are. Too bad Maladin didn’t make the switch several years ago when still in his prime.
On the other hand, as good as Rossi is, not to mention Stoner, Spies and Maladin are probably having more fun right where each of them are.
How cool would it be for Rossi and Spies to be teammates next year? - 1) Everyone on this side of the pond knew Spies was fast
2) The reigning WSB champion has retired. The remainder of the grid is made up of “used-to-was”, “never-was” and guys trying to develop new bikes. Biaggi is past his prime and Haga, while always fast, has never been a consistent winner.
3) Maybe, just maybe, Yamaha is on to something with the new engine. Maybe the new crank takes better care of the tires, since Spies usually doesn’t show any real superiority until mid to the end of the race.
4) Everyone on this side of the pond knew Spies was fast. - MD question: Was Suzuki crazy not to take him straight into MotoGP this year?
I’m not Ben Spies nor can I speak for him, however it’s clear that his move to WSB on a powerful Yamaha bike and factory team was a strategic transition to MotoGP in the future. He’s holding the winning ticket and he knows it! The question many will ask is could Spies have been a completive contender with Suzuki. Sure he could have…right? If you’re a GP fanatic like so many of us motorcycle daily readers, you know that Suzuki has a competitive bike and is very capable of winning a championship in the near future GP circuit. Champion riders such as Ben Spies expect current consistent winning championship bikes and teams and nothing less. Ben is on top of his game and played his ‘Joker card’ mathematically perfect. With Valentino Rossi hinting retirement and a contract that’s almost up rapidly approaching the timing for Spies couldn’t be better for a seat on a Factory M1. The cards are dealt and it’s a winning hand no doubt.
I get jazzed just wondering if we’ll have a chance to see Vale and Spies dishing it out on M1’s and fending off rival Stoner and Padrosa. Holy COW I just got Goosebumps again!
- Suzuki’s insanity is quite apparent at this point. But Suzuki’s loss is Yamaha’s gain, and I believe that Ben is enjoying himself at this point as well as us fans. Suzuki and MotoGP will have to sit back and lick their wounds for now.
- Suzuki screwed up royally. They made a huge mistake letting Yamaha get Ben. Now it is assured that they will not see a Motogp title in the foreseeable future. How could they be so dumb? Heads will roll…..as they should.
And yes, he will win the title his rookie year with a couple of races to spare. - Amazing start! Really shows the level of talent we have here in America and we can’t seem to get anybody to pay attention. Everybody is ga-ga over cages going around in a circle on NASCAR to the point where it’s difficult to get even same day coverage of these races. Lawnmower racing gets higher billing! A local boy running at the top at the national level for several years making the jump to the world stage and immediately winning races on a new bike and on tracks he’s never seen, all the while adjusting to life overseas and on the road. Hero stuff!! Put Ben on the Wheatie’s box as far as I’m concerned. He deserves more.
- In AMA I couldn’t stomach him….cocky, arrogant and yet boring. As the sole American in WSBK I am pulling for him. He is a very talented rider. Hopefully his attitude and personality mature in the series. There hasn’t been the close racing I desire but the year is young.
- I think Suzuki will see their A$$es, if they already aren’t about not taking the boy into WSB this year….and yes I do believe he has what it takes to be WSB champ in his rookie year.
A great pity for my other great friend “the nearly man”, Haga, as this would mean he misses out again, but that would be the way cookie crumbles…….wouldn’t it!
That’s my five cents worth…
- Before Bens 1st win the last American to win in WSB was The Texas Tornado back in 2002. The way it looks it’s a good thing Mladin’s not over there with him or WSB could actually get boring like AMA superbike has been for us for the last 8-9 years. This new R1 is getting great reviews but as they say it’s not the arrow it’s the indian pulling the bow! Give credit where credit is due. Haga says wait for Valencia, what else is he going to say? I say “Go Ben!”
- I have started several threads about this in forums on the net and my thoughts are the same as Matt Mladin. Ben will win the championship with rounds to spare. He is a wonderful talent and I feel confident that he will join a MotoGP team that with a competitive package and bring the championship back to the U.S. For this reason I am glad that Suzuki did not pick him up. Maybe they will realize what they missed a great opportunity, get their act together and develop a competitive machine.
- I agree with Suzuki’s decision to retain Chris Vermeulen, a known quantity,
in MotoGP, but I’m sure they wish Capirossi’s contract ended after the ’08
campaign. (Sorry Loris) Yamaha has now inherited the services of the
three-time AMA champ, and, if his public words are any accurate indication
of his vision, Spies looks to eventually step in to a role with Yamaha in
MotoGP. Lucky them. Tough luck for Suzuki. Timing strikes again. In any
case, it’s nice to see American talent competing so well on the world
stage. Ben Spies is really coming into his own. We’re only two tracks
into the WSBK Championship, but I believe we’ve seen enough to expect him
to be racing among the leaders throughout the remainder of the season. Go
Ben! - Suzuki crazy, YES! Ben Spies had an audition iduring Indy ‘testing’ prior to the MotoGP event. Suzuki had him ride in three races and he did better than most of the regulars on a seemingly inferior bike at the time. Now in ’09 Suzuki seems to have the hardware figured out but are missing the key component of Ben Spies in the software department to take a real shot at Yamaha and the great Rossi.
Yamaha, on the other hand, seems to have the right strategy to bring Spies into WSB for a year or two until Rossi gets completely bored and hangs up his leathers. By then, Spies will be ripe for taking Rossi’s spot in MotoGP.
Once again, or better said continually, Yamaha has the right combination of hardware, software, and strategy to win most everything in sight.
- I’m not surprised; I was at Fontana when he won his first race! I knew he had a great future ahead of him and he’s proving it!
- Have to say… I thought this would happen and I feel bad for Haga… it was supposed to be “his” year, after all.
Everything about Ben’s approach to racing spells doom for his competitors. His pre-season times on the old R1 (at a new track!), his conservation of tires, his ability and love of riding at the absolute edge of performance, his elbows-out riding, and perhaps most importantly, his matter of fact and laid-back style (that bothers or bores some people) gives the impression that he is exactly where he is supposed to be doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. Zen-like… or Ben-like. Barring injury, he will be world champion. If it wasn’t for Biaggi brake-checking him at Phillip Island in Race 1, he’d be 4-for-4 with 2 poles this year, guaranteed! Ask Mladin what he thinks and I’d bet he’d say he’s glad Ben’s not racing in the US anymore! PS. Having an American in WSBK raises my already fervent interest in this series to a fever pitch… go Ben!
- I think Ben was very smart to sign with the Yamaha team. They were very competitive with Haga on board and had the potential with Haga to win the World Championship. But Ben is already proved himself as an amazing AMA Champion and has amazing riding skills. Ben on the Yamaha definitely has the potential to win the Championship this year. Even if he was riding the same Suzuki he had in AMA, he would definitely be at the front smoking the other riders. I’m betting on Spies to win this year for sure! Suzuki I think under estimated his potential big time! Although, If Ben would have gone to Motogp on the Suzuki I think he would have had a more difficult time being up in the front. Motogp bikes are a different animal. Maybe he would give Valentino a run for his money if he was Rossi’s team mate. When Ben wins the championship this year, he’s gonna have one hell of a Bargaining chip. My dream is to see more Americans tune in to motorcycle racing and ride more motorcycles here in the U.S like they do in Europe. Go Spies!!!!
- Was Suzuki crazy not to take Ben Spies straight to MotoGP this year? Not really. It really would have been crazy for Ben Spies to go to Suzuki for MotoGP this year. Unless Suzuki has finally gotten their bike sorted out, Ben would have just been another back marker. He is fairly talented, but if the bike isn’t competitive it doesn’t matter how talented the rider is.
- One can only judge on the past and judging by Ben’s recent past, he is a sure winner; a class of his own. Let’s see how the championship develops.
- Spies is doing extremely well and his Yamaha is also part of it. It has the
power needed. - A bit of a surprise, but, not a huge one. I fully expect Ben to finish in the top five by years end.
I keep a close eye on the US S/B champs. and witnessing the quality and just as importantly the incredible consistancy of the battles between Spies and Mladin it was certain Ben would at the very least make a very strong presence on the WSB grid.
A couple or so years ago Mladin visted Phillip Island for testing at the same time as the WSB guys and finished with faster lap times than them. So for me this was one measure of the standard of racing displayed by Ben and Matt.
Ben Spies must be a highly intelligent person as well, evidenced by his abilty to set up a bike for fast consistent racing, his race strategy and his already demonstrated abilty to learn new tracks extremely quickly.
It seems all the stars have aligned, quality rider, well sorted bike, great new engine and factory backing.
All the very best to Ben Spies for the remainder of the season.
- I’m glad he went to World Superbikes. Ever since MotoGP went to 800cc, WSBK has been better racing to watch, and much more unpredictable. A privateer can still win on occasion, and last-lap passes for the lead are common. On the other hand, there were only 4 guys who could win races/parades in MotoGP last year, with Rossi and Stoner winning the vast majority. And now, with the current economic situation, I think Ben is far better off on a well-supported production team than a prototype racing team that only days ago confirmed their title sponsor.
Anyway, I think a huge reason behind his success, aside from riding ability, is that his crewchief went with him. This seems to be a pattern among the champs – Rossi/Burgess, Bayliss/Marinelli, and now Spies/Houseworth. There is no doubt, he can definitely win the title this year. I’m also hope that he’s now vindicated himself (and Mladin), in terms of their merciless trashing of the rest of the AMA field in recent years
- I am going to honest while he was wining races in AMA with the “Suzuki show” I didn’t think that he was as good as some of the other riders out there.
Then he did a few Moto GP races and had some very impressive results and it got me thinking ….maybe this guy is good and after what he has accomplish
so for this year in WSB, there is definably no question that Ben Spies is the real deal and should be racing in Moto GP. I got to believe that some managers
at Suzuki have not been sleeping that well the last few weeks. - It’s a tough world for Ben Spies. He’s on a new bike, riding on new
tracks, rubbing “Elbowz” with new riders around him, yet everyone
expects him to win every race. Is anyone really surprised he is doing so
well? If you are from the United States, then his success comes with no
surprise at all. What is a surprise is how well the new Yamaha engine is
performing. Was it a mistake for Ben Spies not to go to MotoGP? I think
Ben Spies and WSBK are a good match..for now. MotoGP already has enough
“personalities” to keep everyone watching week to week. But with the
retirement of Troy Bayliss in WSBK, there really isn’t anyone that has
that “great” character that would keep people coming back every week.
Corser? Biaggi? Haga? Besides Ben Spies, I was more interested in seeing
the new bikes of BMW and Aprilia than to see any particular rider. Ben
Spies filled that gap. Here’s a new Yank rider that just jumps in and
starts destroying the competition. With this being Spies first year with
WSBK, this isn’t supposed to happen. But Spies IS doing it, and it is
has created a drama that everyone wants to watch. Great for WSBK! I have
a sneaky suspicion that when MotoGP loses a certain personality (Vale),
you will see Ben Spies move to MotoGP. Ben Spies has an incredible
chance to win the WSBK title this year. The competition better figure
out a way to stop Spies and his team better keep an eye on his bike…
because bike sabotage is looking better and better every week! - I really think some heads are having to answer some questions at the top in the Suzuki Corporation Japan. ;-). And, they are not smiling! ;-(
- When i heard Suzuki didnt pick him up i couldnt believe it. I bet they will be trying to get him back next year.He will get Edwards ride next year
- Things are obviously clicking for the guy, and he’s on a roll.
I hope I don’t jinx him. 🙂Impressive that he’s been outriding heavy-hitters like Haga and Biaggi, and I hope he keeps it up.
After he skillfully passed those two guys in each race in Qatar, Spies seemed like he was on another planet with the way he rode the bike.
Most impressive, and that new YZF-R1 looks and sounds cool, too.
I also like how Spies comes across as being a down-to-Earth guy during the after-race interviews and that Haga and Biaggi seem to have respect for the newcomer already, something that I think can only help.
I wish that Bayliss was still riding the series because I’m curious as to how the pair would match-up.This has the makings of a dream season, and I’ll be watching while wearing my good luck charms. 🙂
- After watching Spies on the tube for 6 years, I got to watch him in action at the Indy GP. I was seated in the turn 6 area and by far he was the fastest through that section and his talent was never in doubt.
I knew he could win in WSB, I think the rest of the WSB paddock got a wakeup call with Spies arrival. WSB is the series to watch this year, all the different manufacturers and many strong riders.
Suzuki really screwed themselves. They had their next Kevin Schwantz and they let him slip away. Anyone involved with that mishap of losing Spies ought to be relegated to sweeping floors at corporate headquarters!
GO SPIES!!!!!!!
- just goes to show that he was well mentored by Matt. 😉
- The guy is the real deal on a bike good enough to win. In AMA, we
thought it might be mostly bike. Clearly – the bike was good……
but so is Spies.Had he gone to MotoGP on a Suzuki – we’d likely have been impressed
with his performances. But I don’t think the bike would take him to
the front. - Here’s appoint to ponder. The DMG got the rules wrong. To make the racing even in Superbike they should have just had Maladin and Spies ride one handed. The Suzuki is a good bike but, those two guys are just that much better than the rest. If they had been teamed together on say the Kawasaki team then everyone would have been tired of watching Kawasaki domination…etc. Ben’s double proves that. ( Keep in mind that if Biagi hadn’t punted him off in race one last week he’d probably won all four of the first four races!)
- Mat Mladin is the best AMA Superbike rider ever but Ben was able to win the title 3 years in a row over Mat. When Troy Bayliss, the best World Superbike rider, was asked about who he thought the championship would be fought between, he answer Nori and Ben. As far as Suzuki goes, they had a great rider which they released with an equally great crew chief in Tom so yes, they were absolutely stupid for doing so. It is a team sport and between Ben’s riding and Tom’s tuning, they are going to be very difficult to beat.
