WSBK » Spies: It's hugely exciting

Haga winning Champ on Yamaha - it will never happen:( sad

man, suzuki must be kicking themselves in the n@ds over losing their two best superbike riders to Yamaha....Oh well tough break Suzi! I'm really looking forward to next season, it'll be like the golden era of superbike racing again!

crash.net, please stop calling it a "big bang" engine. No two cylinders are firing at the same time. It's an uneven order. More like "long bang with a pause." Haha that sounds dirty.

Crash.net: We haven't called it simply a 'big bang' engine. We've called it "a 'big bang' TYPE engine". 'Long Bang' engine is another alternative. Which description (those or others) would you - the Crash.net viewers - prefer?

Spies means business I have watched him for the past 3 years.He is very fast not only that he very seldom drops the bike.I just cannot wait for the new season.

Hey guys, Yamaha really wants to win WSBK next year. Has ever been happened that a permanent factory brings the new bike to track right after the end of the year? I mean everybody is testing with the old machines (BMW and Aprilia are excuses as they are new to the whole WSBK world), such as in the past - nobody published the new guns until January (not to mention Honda, which always lasted the most with developing - just mention Qatar 2008 or 2005, Valencia 2004, 2002, 2001...). Test in South Africa - signs of very huge determination of winning the crown next year.
Suzuki - stupid Japanese directors - throw away Nieto and Kagayama, and hire real determined riders - such as Spies, Sykes...

Hey William Moore! I can't agree more with you! I once said on this site that besides Rossi, Ben Spies is the most naturally gifted Motorcycle Racer in the world today! Not to slight the stoners, haydens, lorenzos or pedrosas, but man this guy can really fly! he's like a red bull with wings!!!!

How can this be "relatively close to production specs" ... "The present modifications included: modified cam-shaft, enlarged radiator, the addition of an oil cooler, new exhaust, aluminium fuel tank with increased capacity, the latest Magneti Marelli electronic systems and a new swing arm developed purely for the WSBK race bike." Add to that list the "standard" electronic suspension, upgraded forks, brakes, revised rake and trail settings ........

So the only standard thing about the bike is the fuel tank badge!! Combine that with the 09 uneven firing sequence motor and it sounds more like the motogp bike than the RSVR, and has the specs to match it. I suspect this bike would be faster.

The Rizla Suzuki will regret not kicking hopeless Vermulen or dinasaur Capirossi out in favor of Spies. Another season will go to waste for Susuki in MotoGP. Seriously, shame on Suzuki, especially after how well he's proved himself in his wild-card appearances. Now that Spies is a Yamaha rider, this opens up more potential to land a Yamaha seat in MotoGP with Tech 3.

If you ever has watched ama superbike racing you will know there are only two riders who race in it, Ben Spies & Matt im two good for motogp Mlladin. I agree, Ben Spies is a world class rider but he has no experience in Europe and all of the WSB riders are world class.I wish Ben well. I know Ben will win races in WSB but please dont think hes going to walk away with the championship.there are alot more experienced
and better riders than Ben Spies in WSB.

andy b - There may be more experienced riders in WSBK, but you will see that are none better than Spies. A couple of years ago, Mat Mladin tested at Philip Island with the WSBK guys and was the fastest. Spies has spanked him 3 years running. Next years racing will be so close that Spies could win the championship with just a few wins. His biggest concern will be learning the tracks so that he can hold his own against the WSBK veterans.