Spies to Tech 3 (official {motoGP})?

To add some spice, rumor is (around the AMA paddocks, as filtered down to the club racing paddocks via a very convoluted path, so take with a very large grain of salt) that Fiat Yamaha will supply full factory spec bikes and parts to Spies (and not his Tech 3 teammate).

The entire move was at Spies' request, and Yamaha convinced its satellite team to take him on. Yamaha wants Spies to be ready to move up to the factory team in 2, maybe 3 seasons. It is no secret that Rossi is slowly nearing retirement (almost left for F1 in 2006 after lapping 0.5 seconds slower than Schumacher, but stated that he had a few more things to accomplish on a bike) from bikes, and Yamaha wants to have another star to slide into his place when he goes.

And even if Rossi stays in MotoGP, his historically very good relationship with Yamaha has been strained recently by Yamaha's decisions to (i) pay Lorenzo a LOT of money to prevent him from jumping ship to Ducati, (ii) spend equal effort developing Rossi's and Lorenzo's bikes (there was never a wall in the pit like in the Pedrosa/Hayden days at Honda, but a rider of Rossi's standing is always favored in terms of development at top teams, and changing this can only hurt Rossi), and (iii) send a satellite rider like Spies factory-level bikes and parts (but without the development support of the factory team).

It will be a very interesting offseason. Though I don't expect fireworks, one idea being tossed around by guys telling lies over beers is that Rossi may depart for Ducati prior to next season (perhaps to replace Stoner, because Marlboro is allegedly angry at him for sitting out three races, and they don't seem to care that he may very well be very ill), which could give Spies a shot on a factory bike. I think this is highly unlikely, but it will be interesting whatever happens.

Ignoring all the potential moves, I think Spies will thrive in MotoGP. It may take him some time to adjust, but I think he will impress. On the one hand, today's MotoGP bikes are more like 250cc GP machines due to their narrow and high power bands, but on the other hand, traction control makes them much more manageable than two-stroker GP bikes, and the traction control technology has much in common with its Superbike counterpart.

Can't wait to see another US rider thrive in MotoGP.

Yeah, I think its great news that Ben is coming to the elite class.

Like you say, bringing Tom and mechanic Gregory, with him will be another major boost to him. If its an answer to JB ? hard to say, but it has helped in WSB, so it should continue in MotoGP.

Do you remember in '96 when Neil Tuxworth told Foggy that HRC wanted its own mechanics to work on his RC45, and he had to let Antony " Slick " Bass go ? Foggy did not perform like he should have done. The big was capable of winning the title ( John Kocinski did it the next year ) but with out Slick, Carl said he was lost in a world of 2 hour debriefs and trying to tell a HRC guy that he wanted more compression, took hours.

Well with Ben having Tom he should be good to go from the first race, and that is looking like Valencia : http://www.motomatters.com/news/2009/10/02/ben_spi...

Rossi has JB, Dani has Mike Lightner, Ben has Tom. There are so many riders who like to keep the same crew with them, and why not ? If it works, then dont try and fix it.

As for Bens results in 2010, well I dont think he is going to win the title ( like I still think he will in WSB ) but im sure he will top 5 the title.

The Tech 3 M1's are not that far behind the Fiat M1's so Ben should do well. Look at Colin this year, I for one think, if he was back on the "factory" M1 rather then a " works " bike, he would have been on the podium at least 4 or 5 times this year.

Im also sure that Colin will be helping Ben. Not too much, but a little. Too Texan's in the same team should be good for the one off paint jobs at Laguna !

I hope Monster continiue their backing for Tech 3, Im sure they will, Monster is US owned after all ( Coca Cola is its parent company ) so it should be good.

You have said it already, & now I'll say it :

" BRING IT ON !!! "

Hi Proc

Ben Spies decision to come a year earlier is great news for me ! I´m delighted ! I´m sure my good ole´friend Ben19fan will be happy too.

I can think of 5 people who might not ve very happy, and their names are Valentino, Dani, Casey, Jorge and Colin (I won´t say their last names to guard their privacy). Some of them are assuming Ben will find it difficult because he comes from the SBK arena... we´ll see. My guess is he wil thrive in MotoGP, perhaps not immediately, but he will.

I´m sad to see JT leaving, I think he suffered a lot with the change of tyres and the quali tyres ban. At least he got a decent ride for next year.

I´m sure Yamaha will have the satellite team "gap" in check, just to make sure the Tex riders can beat everyone except the Fiat guys.

The most interesting scenario would be Jorge becoming champion in 2010 with Ben having also a great season. What will yamaha do ?

Watching Casey Stoner smiling again at the press conference is kind of a relief... Lets see on Sunday if the break paid off. I reckon Casey at 100% is difficult to beat.

Like you Mr Proc - I too can't wait !!

"""Initially""" I don't think there will be

too much of a challenge for the Fiat Team

since I don't believe either Lorenzo or Rossi

will be at all fazed by Ben's arrival -

I think the 'challenge' is more likely -

the following year !!

It is a possibility I suppose that Ben could be

more suited to the Superbikes (as is the case

with JT) BUT ... I doubt it very much !!

As for Ben's build on a GP bike - I rather

like his style of riding - ELBOWZ an all !!

I'm NOT even going to mention just how

gorgeous and FIT he is !!!! - XxX -

I did hear that Casey's got something

to worry about though .....

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad233/RAS_Houst...

is it too much to ask to ask for to want to see a rainey/schwantz-like competition? i havent seen it yet, but i've only been watching the GP since 2004. i would like to see spies make an instant impact and hopefully his name will bring some needed yamaha satellite funding to his tech 3 ride and give vale some major troubles. it is definitely too early to know whether or not spies will be great on the GP bikes but i haven't looked forward to any other season as much as I do 2010. If spies could eventually get the fiat ride, that would be wonderful. but thinking about the future also makes me think about vale's eventual retirement and i don't want to think about a MotoGP without vale

I have very mixed feelings ~ I am gutted about James Toesland going out of MotoGP ~

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/James-Toseland-to-...

But I feel Ben could bring some great interest into MotoGP next year ~ and I too can't wait for the season to start ~ I'm lost in the winter with no MotoGP ~

[ how good is this looking!! Ben moving with his own crew to the best satelite team in the paddock..

He has also got the experience of his fellow texan Edwards to watch and learn from..

He decided to move to MotoGp sooner rather than later,which is the best decision, has he can probably move back to WSB easily enough with his record

If all goes to plan Herve Poncheral could be a big winner next year too..<^><..

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