Spies, Edwards take sideswipe at Rookie Rule change

'Heard the rookie rule is being changed back again... Sometimes I guess we need a diff passport?' - Ben Spies to Colin Edwards on Twitter

Kyle White

20 Jun 2012

Spies, British MotoGP Race 2012
© Gold and Goose

Ben Spies and Colin Edwards have taken a dig at the MotoGP rule makers after it emerged the Rookie Rule is expected to be dropped for 2013.

The move would pave the way for Moto2 rising talent Marc Marquez to join the factory Repsol Honda team in the elite class next year.

Spies was prevented from going straight to the factory Yamaha team when the rule was brought in during his first season in MotoGP in 2010 and instead joined the satellite Tech 3 Yamaha outfit.

Airing his views on social media site Twitter following the announcement of a likely rule change, the Texan tweeted the following message to fellow countryman Edwards (@texastornado5).

'Heard the rookie rule is being changed back again......@texastornado5 sometimes I guess we need a diff passport?'

In a separate Tweet referring directly to Marquez, he added: 'Not hating on Marquez at all. The kid is fast. I'm just stating facts that no matter where ur from [it] shouldn't hinder or help u.'

Edwards later replied: 'Complete joke!!!! No wonder Casey [Stoner] has lost his passion when u see all cards stacked against ya....ridiculous!!'

The present rule, which bans first-season riders from joining a factory team, is intended to help the satellite teams gain the funding, factory support and track success that goes with having the hottest young stars - for one season at least.

Honda is keen to sign Marquez as a replacement for retiring world champion Casey Stoner, and the satellite teams seem to feel there is little benefit in potentially being forced to ditch their existing sponsors and some team members for a single-year Marquez deal.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta asked the satellite teams if they expected to have any vacancies for new riders in 2013.

When told their priority was "to keep their existing riders" the Spaniard decided it would be "common sense to propose to the Grand Prix Commission [that the Rookie Rule is dropped]".

He added on MotoGP.com: "The request to cancel the Rookie Rule was made by the MSMA [manufacturers' association] at Jerez and we said 'no' at that moment."

Although the rule is yet to be officially removed, reports from Spain suggest Marquez may already have signed for Repsol Honda.