Less than a week later, Spies had the chance to once again ride Capirossi's GSV-R after the Italian was further injured on day one at Assen, but Ben turned the opportunity down due to uncertain weather and the time he'd already lost around the unfamiliar Dutch TT circuit.

In short, there was more to lose than to gain, especially as his best chance of 2008 MotoGP success will undoubtedly come at the two US rounds.

The GSV-R might still feel foreign by then, but Spies knows Laguna Seca better than most on the MotoGP grid, and his presence at this week's test means he will initially have an advantage at Indianapolis - so what are his goals for the two US rounds?

"I'd love to be in the top ten, top five, but that's going to be pretty tough so if I can get comfortable on the thing, I think we can do reasonably well but the issue is trying to get comfortable and that's why we're here," replied Spies, who is determined to secure a full time grand prix ride for 2009.

"I did 100 laps today and I'm probably going to do another 100 tomorrow so, just the more laps, the better for me and try to run with those guys."

The US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca will take place on July 20.