Spies makes Yamaha WSB move
Added on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Spies makes Yamaha WSB move
Ben Spies will team up with Britain’s Tom Sykes next season after agreeing to ride for Yamaha in World Superbikes.
Spies, who had been tipped with a move to the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team for much of the season, will join Yamaha for the 2009 WSB season alongside British Superbikes rider Tom Sykes to form what will be an all-rookie line-up for the factory team, replacing the experienced Troy Corser and Noriyuki Haga.
The 22-year-old, who took wildcard places for Suzuki in the MotoGP rounds at Donington Park, Laguna Seca and Indianapolis, saw his Grand Prix opportunities limited as Suzuki retained the services of existing riders Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi.
Spies has dominated in the American AMA Superbikes Championship, winning his third consecutive championship last month having ended the dominance of Australian and six-time AMA champion Matt Mladin and the man from Tennessee is looking forward to a new challenge.
“I’m very excited about joining Yamaha in World Superbike,” he 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.”
Yamaha on the other hand, have dismissed the notion that fielding two rookie riders in 2009 could prove to be too much of a gamble with team manager Massimo Meregalli suggesting that the team is looking forward to working with two highly talented rookies.
“We’re really enthusiastic to have signed Ben Spies for the 2009 team,” he claimed. “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. “
