Ben Spies Moves....

cheferman65

cheferman65

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Well it's official, Ben is staying on with the Moto GP circus. Good for him but, I question the choice of team and ride? Good for him and best of luck.

From MotoGP.com:

Having already confirmed Nicky Hayden and announced Andrea Dovizioso for the Ducati Team, the Italian manufacturer now reaffirms its confidence in and commitment to the MotoGP World Championship, finalizing its line-up for next season with two riders who are fast and competitive, already protagonists in the MotoGP and Moto2â„¢ World Championships.

At the same time, the partnership has been renewed between Ducati and Pramac Racing, which will continue to be entrusted with the management of the satellite team. The two riders, who have a direct link with the company, will be supplied with official equipment.

This agreement will enable additional important support in the development of the Desmosedici MotoGP project, offering a further opportunity in the process of improving the performance of the Italian bike.

Press release courtesy of Ducati.

spies_slideshow_169.jpg
 
shawnski said:
well ducati is not doing good either, i personally don't think it is a good move.. hope audi will do some good for ducati racing 2013..
i am a big fan of spies but for the last two years in motogp i did not see the same spies that i have known him to be.. not sure if motogp is for him.
Click to expand...

Yes Bots as you have searched and read, that is exactly what I was trying to convey. Anyhoo, I really don't know what to expect from Audi, I personally think its a vanity purchase in their quest for greatness amongst auto/vehicle manufactures. The level of competition in GP may be beyond the grasp of Spies. He's a great rider no question. There is something definitely holding him back. Is it the fact that this year he has been plagued with mechanical & technical failure? Is it mentally exhausting? Only he can answer and don't expect that anytime soon as he is not known for his candid personal responses or interviews. I hope for him the best but fear a mistake in decision professionally awaits him with Ducati Parrmac team. I hope I'm wrong. I really admire and respect him personally and professionally.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner
 
I think the problem Sies has with MotoGP is that the bikes are too small and the old 800 cc bikes were really slowed by his size. It could very well be that his weight is an advantage to the Ducati as he can man handle it better. I think he smelled Rossi coming and probably knew Yamaha was committed to a small bike as it has 2 of the best riders in the world and they are tiny guys.

Ben and the Duck might be made for each other. On the other hand it might be the only ride he could get and stay in MotoGP. If that's the case then it's a good sign - Spies has every right to walk away from it and move on to something else.

When I first heard of Audi buying Ducati the first thing I thought of was their glued together aluminum monoque chasis that was so advanced at handling flex. Sounds like just what the Duck needed. The airbox frame sounds like it wasn't such a good idea but it could very well be that it just needed some materials technology to get it to work. Right now all the MotoGP chasis are the same and they all wrestle with traction, feel and chatter issues that are at best unpredictable. If Ducati was looking to make an ultra stiff frame and then building in adjustability to control things like the mysterious chatter, then maybe Audi can give them the money and technology to get it right.


It's crazy. I love Rossi/Burgess, highly respect Jorge, really like Pedrosa, have even grown to respect Stoner, love Yamaha, Honda & Ducati and I would love nothing more than to see the Spies who was awesome in SBK again!
 
I have been watching the sbk and I can tell you this that is a lot more exciting to watch and very competitive.... Motogp is getting kind of boring and very predictable...
 
fallenarch said:
I think the problem Sies has with MotoGP is that the bikes are too small and the old 800 cc bikes were really slowed by his size. It could very well be that his weight is an advantage to the Ducati as he can man handle it better. I think he smelled Rossi coming and probably knew Yamaha was committed to a small bike as it has 2 of the best riders in the world and they are tiny guys.

Ben and the Duck might be made for each other. On the other hand it might be the only ride he could get and stay in MotoGP. If that's the case then it's a good sign - Spies has every right to walk away from it and move on to something else.

When I first heard of Audi buying Ducati the first thing I thought of was their glued together aluminum monoque chasis that was so advanced at handling flex. Sounds like just what the Duck needed. The airbox frame sounds like it wasn't such a good idea but it could very well be that it just needed some materials technology to get it to work. Right now all the MotoGP chasis are the same and they all wrestle with traction, feel and chatter issues that are at best unpredictable. If Ducati was looking to make an ultra stiff frame and then building in adjustability to control things like the mysterious chatter, then maybe Audi can give them the money and technology to get it right.
Click to expand...

Don't think Ben's size has much to do with it. Simoncelli was right at 6', same as Ben. Ben is rail thin now (compared to his AMA and WSBK time), and in as good of condition as anyone in the paddock. I have read some things pertaining to him just not getting along with the MotoGP community in general, the "tired of the BS" statement being just one. I'm actually surprised to see him stay in MotoGP, especially with a customer spec career killer (Ducati) team.
I personally can't stand Stoner. Snide and condescending when on top, sniveling and full of excuses when he's not. Won the championship in '07 during the first year of the 800s and during the Michelin/Bridgestone fiasco. But when everyone else caught up the next year, he suddenly developed a "mystery illness" to explain why he could no longer easily win, and the real face of the Ducati nightmare appeared. But still to this day he talks trash about Rossi's troubles with a bike that he (Stoner) ran away from, because he could no longer win on it.
I think Ben's move to the Ducati satellite team will be the end of his stay in MotoGP. I'm just hoping it doesn't break enough of his bones, or will, that he can't move on to something better, like WSBK.
 
Ok, so Ben knocks off a Pramac rider, and which one and where does he go (domino effect)?
 
Looks like Hector Barbera with Pramac Ducati may go to a CRT team. Also looks like the recently-revised swingarm and frame on the Ducati factory ride have made some improvement, with Rossi qualifying 6th (only 0.7 second off of Pedrosa's pole time), and Hayden in 10th (but with a healing wrist), at Misano.
 
05 Busa LE said:
Looks like Hector Barbera with Pramac Ducati may go to a CRT team. Also looks like the recently-revised swingarm and frame on the Ducati factory ride have made some improvement, with Rossi qualifying 6th (only 0.7 second off of Pedrosa's pole time), and Hayden in 10th (but with a healing wrist), at Misano.
Click to expand...

It was an awesome last 10 minutes of QP today!
 
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