Spies dedicates podium to Lenz after Indianapolis tragedy
Added on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Spies finished second at Indianapolis, his best ever finish.
Ben Spies dedicated his best ever MotoGP finish at Indianapolis to 13-year-old rider Peter Lenz, who died at the circuit just hours before the Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Lenz was riding in one of Sunday’s undercard races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he came off his bike and landed on the track during a warm-up lap. The American teenager tried to get up but was then struck by a 12-year-old rider. Lenz was given medical treatment trackside but died hours later in hospital.
Lenz became the youngest ever competitor to be killed during an event at the historic ‘Brickyard’ circuit and the first since Indy Car driver Tony Renna was killed during testing in October 2003.
Spies, who knew about the tragedy before the MotoGP event, dedicated his second place finish to the American youngster.
“I was riding my heart out for him (Lenz),” Spies told reporters. “It definitely did put a damper before the race but, when the green flag goes, you’ve got to look straight ahead and hope it will give me some motivation out there. You try to put the stuff out of your head as much as you can but… he had been injured just over a year ago and I sent some stuff to him when he was in the hospital.”
Spies’ teammate and compatriot, Colin Edwards, was also saddened to hear the news, revealing that he was close to Lenz and his family.
“I was shattered after I heard the news,” said Edwards, who retired from the Indianapolis MotoGP after 17 laps because of tyre trouble.
“I have known Peter for a while and am good friends with him and his dad. They were in and out of my motor home this weekend and when I heard the news my heart ached. In the end, I decided to race. I knew it was what I had to do.”
