Spies gets Donington MotoGP debut!

Dr Costa would put a dead man on the grid

im confused by what you mean chu chu!?

Okey Cokey then cash.net posting folk ive heard nothing but praze for this guy from you lot but, i dont think he should be anywhere never a motogp bike but lets see shall we........?

There are a couple of dead men already on the grid, clotting up the rear end, so Ben will have no trouble outperforming these. I say mid pack finish-if it doesn't rain.

Seriously Steve, this guy is pretty damn immense if you ever get the chance to see some AMA watch it!

I still get the impression this guy would benefit more from the WSBK.

its good to see someone new get the chance after all he could be the next swchantz or rainey. suzuki should get spies full time next year lets face it can be no worse than vermulen who always showed talent but never delivered.

Obviously manufacturers try their best in bringing new american blood in the game.
They want to make MotoGP a major scene in the US and the trend is clear: We now have 2 american races (with a track having being built especially for MotoGP) whereas a few years back there was absolutely none plus an effort to bring in american talent.

That's surely for good because the sport needs all the sponsoring interest it can get and luring in american companies can't be bad.

This will be intreresting. For years now the AMA superbike has been ruled by a virtual Suzuki Monopoly but in other superbike championship the GSXR1000 has not been dominant (certainly not every week). So is Ben Spies (and Mladin) really that good is AMA really that bad? I guess this will go some way to answering the question. 10th or 11th will be a good result I reckon.

Glad they've given him the nod over Nobi Aoki. Nice to see a new face on the grid and from what I've seen he can certainly handle a superbike. I really hope he can translate that to motogp. Still we can't expect too much from him on a track he's never been to before and the Suzuki isn't exactly a title winning bike.

Burbs i mean Costa will put any rider no matter how injured on the bike, which i find outrageous.

Great news, I think he will be in the top 7.....if he doesnt bin it! hope not... Donnington is easy to learn, he'll be quick by Saturday qually time

I don't know how good this guy is on equal machinery but it will be a good test for him. In AMA Ben and Mat are killing everyone so I want to know if it's the bike or the riders.

I can't see him finishing in the top ten though. New bike, new track, new tyres, new team. Even his leathers will be new.

I'd say he'll end up in about 12th, but will do much better in Laguna Seca next month.

i doubt he ll be quicker than stoner pedrosa rossi toseland edwards dovizioso rossi lorenzo ... and vermeulen . very different bike and much tougher competition than what he s used to. he only races mladin in the us

This is great news for all spectators.But also an early threat for Hayden and Vermeulen.Imagine Spies finishing in front of them, although i'd be difficult...
It's known Francis Batta is pushing hard to have Ben or Chris on his bike alongside Neukirchner.
As for Hayden, if Spies delivers well than the new so much needed US motogp rider would be discovered!That would lower his chances for a good ride next year.

ZOSTJE - are you related to F. Batta or something? how do we know this fact you speak of.

If Spies does go to MotoGP, the one marque he should avoid like the plague is ...Honda.
First is was Valentino, now Nicky... if Pedro starts to slip, he will get "the treatment"

@ ZX9R Steve : True I'm Belgian too... but read the interview on worldsuperbike.com

to ZX9R Steve : True I'm Belgian too... but read Batta's interview on superbikeplanet.com

interview of F.Batta by Jim Mc Dermott, published 06-01-08

Good luck to Ben - he will need it. I also thought that many AMA superbike riders lacked ambition to try their hand on the bigger WSB/Motogp stage - preferring to earn a wage in AMA 'backwater'. I'm glad he's taking the plunge though as others have said I can't see him shining on a Motogp Suzuki.

Better bet would have been to have a go on Neukirchner Suzuki - now that is a race winning machine.