Spies Signs W/ Yamaha In World Superbike

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American Ben Spies To Yamaha World Superbike
signed contract last week in milan ...
by staff
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
News
01/10/2008

Ben Spies signs with Yamaha World Superbike for 2009


American racing sensation Ben Spies has signed up to the Yamaha factory World Superbike Team to partner 23 yr old British rider Tom Sykes for the 2009 season. The 24yr old American rider from Dallas is fresh from a record third championship win in a row, taking the AMA Superbike Championship crown again for 2008. Spies is only the fourth rider in the history of AMA Superbike to win three consecutive titles and 3rd on the all-time AMA Superbike wins list with a total of 28 AMA Superbike wins. This now completes the Yamaha World Superbike team for 2009.
Spies has been racing and winning in the AMA Superbike Championship since 2005, and has an unrivalled 90% podium finish rate for racing, the highest for any AMA rider in the history of the championship. He took second place in his rookie year followed by the three successive championship wins. Prior to this he had a three year stint in the AMA Supersport Championship,. Spies turned pro in 2000, racing in the AMA Superstock Championship for two years before joining AMA Supersport in 2002.

Spies has also ridden in MotoGP in 2008, starting in place of injured Loris Capirossi at the British GP, finishing 14th place scoring his first MotoGP points. He had a further 2 wildcard outings, achieving 8th at Laguna Seca and an even more impressive 6th at Indianapolis.

"I'm very excited about joining Yamaha in World Superbike," Spies said. "This is a positive step for the direction of my career. I'll have a great opportunity to race on many of the top road racing circuits in the world. Riding with a company as passionate about racing as Yamaha is going to put me in a good position to contest for a world championship right from the start."

"Superbike racing originated in America, but it's been a while since we've had an American world champion. There's a great tradition of American riders in World Superbike and I hope to put my name alongside great champions like Fred Merkel, Doug Polen, Scott Russell, John Kocinski and Colin Edwards. "

"After considering my offers it became obvious to me that Yamaha would be a great home. Yamaha was excited about the possibility of me joining them and they just made me feel like I was coming into a great family. You look at how Yamaha treats its riders and how, even after their careers are over, they're always part of the Yamaha family. That was really important to me. I'm looking forward to the challenge at hand and to work with Yamaha to produce a winning team and ultimately a World Superbike Championship."

Massimo Meregalli (Yamaha's factory Superbike Team Manager)

"We're really enthusiastic to have signed Ben Spies for the 2009 team. He's proved to be a very skilful and successful rider in AMA Superbike, he has been one of the riders we have followed closely this year. We are sure he will be a great combination with Tom Sykes, the team are looking forward to starting with them both next year. There will be a lot to learn with new circuits and new bikes but we also have new motivation as a fresh team and will give 200% to help the riders win in 2009. "

"We're very excited to have Ben join the team" said Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Division Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp. "He's proved to be a top rider with his AMA titles and recent rides in MotoGP, we believe he's got a long future ahead of him at the highest levels in motorcycle racing."

ENDS
 
I didn't know you updated that thread. :moon: :laugh:

He had really impressive MotoGP finishes, but he will get there.
 
He'll do just fine I think. Why would Suzuki broom two young Superbike Champions from their stable at the same time?

Oh well on to 2009! :beerchug:
 
Oughta be another fun year in WSBK. Haga on the factory Duc, Spies on Haga's old ride, the Beemers, Biaggi to new Aprilia, and the return of Shakey Byrne to the Sterilgarda team. Good shows aplenty.:beerchug:
 
I just saw this news today, hey, I am in Alabama....

I cant believe that American motorcycle racing lost its best. You have to think that DMG taking over AMA had something to do with his decision to essentially go to Europe to ride the same caliber of equipment he would have rode here and do so for less $$$.

Last season, I got to watch Ben ride nearly every week. WSBK? Got to DVR that stuff because we get little of it and when we do, it aint while the grill is running on Sunday.

So have Matt Mladin, Jake Zemke, Jamie Hacking and the Bostroms left the US too?
 
Mat's most likely retiring. He doesn't want to deal with the new REgime's B.S. (see VIR and Road Atlanta provisional qualifying incidents). Zemke is shopping the WSBK market. Possibly looking into World Supersport, just like Josh Hayes. Eric Bostrom is retired for the time being. He's gonna be a farmer in Brazil. Ben Boz may race with factory Yamaha again. Josh Hayes just left for World Supersport.
 
One thing the Boz got correct. The US is NOT the Country to invest in if Husan Obama becomes President. Our Corporate tax base is at 82% (Second highest in the World) and with the New Obama Tax increases, other Countries are the way to go. And THAT'S SAD :unhappy:
 
Does anyone know when the first WSBK test is? Curious to see all the new 09 hardware and riders! Also curious to see if any of the other AMA Superbike guys follow through with their plans to defect to Europe.
 
Dang, read the new Sport Rider and saw the blurb about DMG / AMA.... pretty bad ink there.. something to the effect that DMG wants to squeeze out factory participation to make things EQUAL... thinking privateers that have no chance in the current climate would excel if the big four were forced out and the entire field were just privateers? Not sure about that business plan since the 'big 4' actually use the tracks and teams as proving grounds, well at least they do overseas. No sense in having that done here eh?

Was really hoping that something of substance would come out and we would have a least a partially functional sanctioning body here in the states for '09.
Suzuki has got to be kicking mad watching what they have built in Superbike evaporate into the ether in a few short months - to make matters worse... Spies goes WSBK and now will ride with the tuning forks...

I like following WSBK (Troy Bayliss is my guy there along with Max Neukirshner) and maybe we'll get some decent coverage of it. If Ben is riding for Yam and they employ that new cross plane crankshaft design he might just romp (and I hope he does) but I figure Ducati will walk the field again.
One thing I have learned watching motorcycle road racing is that if Ducati is participating, they are either winning or are very close to doing so.

To ramble a little further.... my local dealership is owned by a pretty cool guy and he loves to talk shop with customers and told me that the new Yamaha R1 sounds and runs like a twin due to the new engine design.
Might be interesting....
 
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Soup had an MP3 of his 09 R1 running in the pits and it sounds pretty tough!

If he is already on Haga's times on that thing on a track he has never seen WATCH OUT!:beerchug:
 
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Spies has the best ride for next year. The Duc's don't have the riders, Honda is KINDA supporting their guys with Suz and Kawi just coming along. Spies to me is the Best Rider next year without a doubt and just might be able to take it all :thumbsup:
 
It is universal at this point. Spies is the heat and all of them know it know! Unofficially he is already within .2 seconds of Bayliss' lap record in Portugal. And the bike is virtually as Haga left it. They are built nothing alike and it is his first shot at the track, the Ohlins suspension, the Pirelli tires etc. Oh this is going to be fun to watch!:laugh::beerchug:

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Speaking of Portugal, did you watch the last WSBK round this past weekend? Wow!! What a track. Incredible layout with crazy elevation changes. WSBK racing is where it's at!! Even Rossi admitted Superbike racing is WAY Cooler than MotoGP, in terms of close competition on top of the line machinery.

It is universal at this point. Spies is the heat and all of them know it know! Unofficially he is already within .2 seconds of Bayliss' lap record in Portugal. And the bike is virtually as Haga left it. They are built nothing alike and it is his first shot at the track, the Ohlins suspension, the Pirelli tires etc. Oh this is going to be fun to watch!:laugh::beerchug:

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