WSBK » Spies: I can smell the lead now

@ Bugreff,

Sorry, but Big Bad Ben is in a zone of his own.

Can you image any combination of Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo, and Pedrosa having a barbeque together? No, me either!

The fellowship with the riders in WSBK is one thing that Ben says he enjoys. They race hard yet still have some beers and a bit of fun on Sunday night. I even heard Haga came over and did Sushi one night. I just can't image anything like that happening in MotoGP. Surely it's not happening in the Fiat or Tech 3 garages.

I'd love to see Haga become world champion but my head says it's all over, Spies has the abilty to learn new tracks instantly and he rides with devastating speed, Haga has lost some of his speed but gained consistency, But Spies is of the Bayliss/Edwards class and could win the next 7 or 8 races if he really put his mind to it, unless his bike fails him Spies will be the 2009 WSB Champ.

Haga will be the next Aaron Slight and never get that Championship win..

I would honestly consider Spies on up on those two, as he would be the first that did it on a non-twin (both edwards and bayliss had capacity advantages then and Michelin tires they had were better than Dunlops) plus he would pull it off in his rookie year. Who has ever done that in WSBK?

In the past 16 years or so, only two others have won the title on non-twins (which is why I don't understand when people say the R1 is the best bike when it's capacity disadvantaged)and who won the title there rookie year?

Mladin predicted that Spies would tie up the title with Two rounds to go.

Didn't Scott Russell wint the WSBK championship his first year and wasn't it on a Kawasaki?

Man, who are these knuckledheads "disagreeing" on the first page of this thread. I wish there was a function where you couldn't do it anonymously. You should have to explain yourself - so then there could be no hiding whether or not you're nuts. With guys like the Ortega highway queer it's easy, some of these other knuckle-draggers though, are just smart enough to be really annoying.

Anyone else wondering if Troy Bayless phone is ringing off the hook right now?

He would be the perfect substitute rider. He may be able to take points from The Ben, plus he would be good for Fabrizio and Haga with set up.

I have to say that although I always thought there was an inevitability to Spies overtaking Haga in the championship, I am certain that he (nor I) would want to have it happen under these circumstances. I wanted to see Haga and Spies battling to the wire. Alas it looks like it might be over before it gets to that. Without Haga in the series it just wont be the same. I have read his rehab may take 1-3 months. Damn shame.

You could just hear Ellison muttering under his helmet "MUST...NOT...PASS...SPIES!"