MotoGP 2012

[denill]

The very professional David Emmett's take on the 2013 line up:

And a comment from that article that I think may possibly hold water:

"It's my belief that the Yamaha/Rossi courting started at the beginning of the year and Spies was told to look for another ride shortly there after. My guess is the run of bad luck has come from a team and rider that no longer had any stake in their results. I think Yamaha burned the bridge to Spies not vice-verse. I sure hope if he does end up with Ducati he can make it dance and not just pile on more disappointment."

[Mental Trousers]

And a comment from that article that I think may possibly hold water:

"It's my belief that the Yamaha/Rossi courting started at the beginning of the year and Spies was told to look for another ride shortly there after. My guess is the run of bad luck has come from a team and rider that no longer had any stake in their results. I think Yamaha burned the bridge to Spies not vice-verse. I sure hope if he does end up with Ducati he can make it dance and not just pile on more disappointment."

I'd believe that. Although Yamaha claimed that Rossi approached them later in the season rather than at the start of the year.

Although he does say in that same article

Yamaha's initial plan for 2013 was to have Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies continue their partnership for the next season. Lorenzo was their first priority, and they signed a deal very early with the Spaniard, then waited for Ben Spies to score some results before offering him a deal. But Spies' shocking season led to a shock decision, to leave the Factory Yamaha team - and indeed, Yamaha, and any chance of ever riding for Yamaha again in the future - at the end of the year.

[denill]

I'd believe that. Although Yamaha claimed that Rossi approached them later in the season rather than at the start of the year.

Although he does say in that same article

I have trouble accepting that there was not something rotting in the Yamaha camp when one, yeah, just the one side of the garage encountered so much 'bad luck'.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I have trouble accepting that there was not something rotting in the Yamaha camp when one, yeah, just the one side of the garage encountered so much 'bad luck'.

Think you'll find that's down to Spies's crew being out of their depth. He had a fair amount of 'bad luck' on hi R1 Superbike too no?

[Drew]

I have trouble accepting that there was not something rotting in the Yamaha camp when one, yeah, just the one side of the garage encountered so much 'bad luck'.

I seriously doubt there is anything more sinister than as Crasher says below.

Think you'll find that's down to Spies's crew being out of their depth. He had a fair amount of 'bad luck' on hi R1 Superbike too no?

On the R1 it was just a running out of gas problem wasn't it? Don't remember anything else going wrong with it, but I have a history of short memory syndrome.

[pritch]

I have trouble accepting that there was not something rotting in the Yamaha camp when one, yeah, just the one side of the garage encountered so much 'bad luck'.

I wondered something similar, just for a moment. Collapsing swing arms and engines turning to shrapnel, however, could result in someone getting seriously hurt. So a "conspiracy" of some sort seems extremely unlikely.

[denill]

I wondered something similar, just for a moment. Collapsing swing arms and engines turning to shrapnel, however, could result in someone getting seriously hurt. So a "conspiracy" of some sort seems extremely unlikely.

Yeah, you're right of course. When I said "rotting" I was probably meaning more like, "Don't spend too much resource on Spies", sort of thing. Hence, lotsa 'bad luck' has happened this year..

I think he has been in the naughty Yamaha corner for awhile now. (Could be due to Mother's meddling?) I remember him saying when he went to the factory team, he would happy to spend the rest of his career with Yamaha. Looks like the honeymoon did not last, for whatever reason. Another book to read one day................

[merv]

Can't that boy Spies get another manager? Declare himself gay or something and demand a bloke for a manager?

[BMWST?]

but arent a good number of Bens crew form previous days?Surely they cant be that bad at there jobs?

[Crasherfromwayback]

but arent a good number of Bens crew form previous days?Surely they cant be that bad at there jobs?

Think he dragged a fair few along from his AMA days via World Superbikes. Hence out of their depth perhaps. Pretty sure he had a rearset/footpeg fall off/come lose on his Superbike etc. At that level...not so good.

[BMWST?]

Think he dragged a fair few along from his AMA days via World Superbikes. Hence out of their depth perhaps. Pretty sure he had a rearset/footpeg fall off/come lose on his Superbike etc. At that level...not so good.

he has some strange ones....i recall the "hoseclamp" thing.He needs to hire Caseys crew

[denill]

but arent a good number of Bens crew form previous days?Surely they cant be that bad at there jobs?

I think he only has Tom Houseman from his AMA days and presently his crew chief. He was having a few glitches on his WSBK and that was Ben's call to help clean up the act.

[tigertim20]

he has some strange ones....i recall the "hoseclamp" thing.He needs to hire Caseys crew

thats a brilliant idea, they clearly have their heads on right, and can do their part of the job well, leaving casey to do his thing. this might just work for him, but, can he afford them?

[Crasherfromwayback]

I think he only has Tom Houseman from his AMA days and presently his crew chief. He was having a few glitches on his WSBK and that was Ben's call to help clean up the act.

thats a brilliant idea, they clearly have their heads on right, and can do their part of the job well, leaving casey to do his thing. this might just work for him, but, can he afford them?

Did I hear somewhere that some of them were heading back to Ducati?

[tail_end_charlie]

Did I hear somewhere that some of them were heading back to Ducati?

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Aug/120831f.htm

Yeah, looks like they are headed back to Ducati, but this article lends them to wrenching for Dovi. After fiasco that this season has been for Ben, I think it might be a good idea to clean house a little bit as far as the team goes.