Ben Spies on a MOTOGP Ducati?

[Sensei]

I heard that Colin Edwards may be taking over the RSV4 Aprilia next year in SBK , Only 2 people have gotten on with the Ducati Stoner & Caparossi both bloody tinny guys which may be why the big guys can't get on with the bike ?? not sure just a thought .Yamaha have never won a SBK Title so Ben would be their best hope at the moment of doing that I believe so would think Yamaha would leave him there for the mean time .

[steveyb]

I don't think wild cards count guys. Can't be arsed trying to find the rule in the book but...

http://www.motogpmatters.com/opinion...per_tiger.html
"Under the new rule, any rider eligible for Rookie of the Year - that is, any rider who has not previously been entered as a full-time rider at the start of a MotoGP season - will not be allowed to join a factory team in their first year of MotoGP, and will instead have to serve an apprenticeship at a private or satellite team, before stepping up to the very top step of the very top series. "


EDIT: but I did read somewhere that Suzuki are exempt from the rule because they don't have a satellite team.

Yep, you are right.
So unless Spies races for Suzuki, he will have to join a satellite team.
But I think that there are a couple of satellite teams with the goods to get riders on the podium (Tech 3 and Gresini).

[Drew]

Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Revvin Kevin, Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan...and a Kiwi by the name of Simon Crafar! How's that for starters mate??

Ok then, some real good ones. I wasn't trying to make a point with my question, I have no idea where anyone started out, I dont really pay attention to that stuff.

And while researching something else, I found this. Dated July '04


"Crafar is working for Ohlins in MotoGP helping all and sundry with
their suspension. He was a very methodical person the way he
approached his racing so would probably be ideal for suspension work".

[pritch]

Those currently voting Spies for Moto GP have perhaps already forgotten that just a couple of years ago Toseland won SBK in convincing fashion. Edwards too was a SBK champ who didn't carry the same form into MotoGP.

Actually I'm having trouble coming up with any names that have crossed over - either way - with similar success.

Young Mr Spies' future though will probably be decided by his mum and she likely doesn't read KB

[slowpoke]

Those currently voting Spies for Moto GP have perhaps already forgotten that just a couple of years ago Toseland won SBK in convincing fashion. Edwards too was a SBK champ who didn't carry the same form into MotoGP.

Actually I'm having trouble coming up with any names that have crossed over - either way - with similar success.

Young Mr Spies' future though will probably be decided by his mum and she likely doesn't read KB

Hmmmm, dunno 'bout Toselands wins being in convincing fashion, he limped over the line to beat Haga by a couple of points on the ten Kate Honda and trailed Laconi for most of the season on the factory Ducati.

He'd done nothing in British Superbikes or World Supersport so he's hardly representative of the cream of WSB despite his two championships.

He'd taken over the Factory Ducati ride from Hodgson at a time when the championship was a gimmee for their squad (Bayliss, Hodgson, Edwards, Xaus in MotoGP) and later the Ten Kate bike was a jet, as proven by Vermuelen the previous year and racing against the aging over stressed 999 Ducati.

Anybody at that level is a good rider but his championships are flattering his abilities. Against the 1000c IL4's he came 5th on the factory 999. A year later, on the same bike, Bayliss won the championship.

[roadracingoldfart]

Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Revvin Kevin, Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan...and a Kiwi by the name of Simon Crafar! How's that for starters mate??

Dont you dare forget Scotty Pete.

[roadracingoldfart]

pffffttttttttttttt..........

If Ben's that good, why doesn't he go racing sidecars...........

Hes sitting just waiting for you to send the email man ..... Just do it Douglas!!

[steveyb]

The Gibernau thing is totally a family and mates stitch up. His extended family is umbilically linked to motorcycle racing (The Bulto family of Bultaco fame) and via the Nieto family they have more money than a bull can shit. So it really is just a jolly for him, although not that jolly unless you like broken bones. My guess is he will either maintain the status quo or the team will disappear. It will not go with Aspar.

Fuck I'm good at this.

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/149...ts_motogp.html