WSBK » Yamaha boss praises 'determined' Spies

Revsak - don't you think it's odd to base dislike of a rider on unsubstantiated internet gossip? It may be that Spies was only really in with a chance of a ride on a Suzuki in the Schwantz managed single rider team which for reasons only known to Suzuki Head Office was cancelled.

Or it could be that when he didn't ride in Assen he upset the Suzuki management and missed out on taking either Capirossi or Vermeulens ride.

Or maybe Capirex or Vermin did just enough to save their seat late in the season.

We may never know, but let's just enjoy the fact that a talented rider is out of the AMA fishpond and onto the world scene where his skill can really be judged.

Spies is over-rated. Posted by Marc

You got it! A bike he's never been on, tires he's never used, and a track he's never seen and he sets a pace equal to Baylis. Completely over rated, what was Yamaha thinking?
I do not see the big hang up with the money issue (if there really is one). Why take a pay cut for what most see as a promotion?

I don't know why but I have an automatic dislike of Spies. I think it's something to do with him demanding stupid money with Moto GP. Just because he has won AMA for the past few years he thinks he's awesome. Big wake up call for him in 2009!

marc, you couldn't be furthur from the truth my friend.

No one here is saying Spies is a lock to win, nor will he be the fastest in the '09 WSBK grid. New bikes, new team, new tires, new environments (i could go on) will all be challenges which COUNTER a riders ability to be consistent, which win a championship.

but after watching many of the greatest riders over the last 10 yrs in person, I can honestly say that Spies's style, attitude and the competitiveness on the track really remind me of Vale. I am not comparing where they are at now, but Spies has uber amounts of talent and is going to go places. Take it for what its worth

My guess is Simoncelli to Tech 3 to replace either Toseland or Edwards in 2010. Toseland has just stolen Edwards crew chief and Colin and James are no longer on speaking terms.

Perhaps Spies to MotoGP in 2011 - Top WSB rookie in 2009, WSB chmpion in 2010 and MotoGP in 2011. I don't think he is over rated!

Spies is over-rated. While it's an accomplishment to beat the likes of Mladin who would have done well at WSB or even GP if he was given another chance. Spies is now with top calibre riders but he does have an advantage of getting on a winning bike, team and a new bike that is supposed to have more power. But in the end I don't think he'll win the championship. In terms of Tech 3 I think they'd be better served by a top level 250 rider in 2010 to replace Edwards and probably cheaper then getting Spies.

Ducman - where did you get those figues? MCN this week has a comparison of MotoGP and WSB and indicates £25m as the cost of a 2 rider team in MotoGP and £2.5m for WSB. Haga has previously been rumoured to be on £500k and Checa on 100k (Euros) presumably with personal sponsorships on leathers, helmet etc plus money from the organisers he could be on much more in total. Some of the lower riders may be on expenses only with their earnings coming from clothing deals - I remember Hislop taking the BSB Yamaha ride for no pay, but earning £130k that season from clothing and other sponsorsship.

Regarding Spies I expect the organisers are subsidising his wages just as they have been doing with Max

Didn't Corser and Haga leave Yamaha due to something or other about wages?

Spies was offered a motogp ride on a honda but turned it down because it was not a winning machine, or at least some thing that you could do some thing with. Perhaps he was chatting to Ant West about whats it like to accept a substandard machine?

cont.. As for Ben Spies why don't people wait and see, I believe he will surprise a few people in 2009, Yamaha seem to have faith in him, as for Suzuki I am not sure why they did not want him but rumours are he wanted lots of money which Suzuki were not prepared to pay, the Suzuki moto gp bike has not performed as well as hoped in 2008 so it's hardly fair to bag the riders, don't forget the rumour is Xerox Ducati made Vermuelen an offer to ride the bike vacated by Bayliss so they must think he is capable of winning the WSB championship, personally I think his best placing in Moto gp would be 4th or 5th at best on a good bike