Wins are key in 2011, claims Spies
Added on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Wins are key in 2011, claims Spies
Ben Spies has claimed that the pressure is on to perform next season after securing a factory ride for the 2011 season.
The former World Superbike champion was the rookie of the year in 2010 after an impressive first season in MotoGP with the Tech 3 Yamaha team. The American, who moved from the Yamaha WSB team that year, outperformed teammate and fellow Texan Colin Edwards last season but is well aware that the expectation is even greater in 2011 as he steps into the seat left vacant by Valentino Rossi.
And the 26-year-old knows that race wins will be expected of him in 2011 following third and second places finishes at Silverstone and Indianapolis respectively last season.
When asked by Cycle News on his goal for the season, Spies responded: “To do what I haven’t done before and win a race.”
“We’re definitely not the person that everybody is looking at right out of the gate, but we’ll try and sneak up there.
“This is the first year for me in a few years where I won’t be the young kid, the rookie or the new guy learning tracks. I don’t have any excuses next year so we need to step up for sure.”
Spies, who said his personal 2010 highlight was pole in front of his home fans at Indianapolis, unsurprisingly picked world champion and new team-mate Jorge Lorenzo as the man to beat.
“The most dangerous guy for next year is definitely Jorge,” he added. “He’s on a great bike as we know. He’s got a lot of good things about him as a rider. When he had to step up this year, he stepped up. When he had to back off, he knew when to back off.
“I think him, Casey [Stoner] will be fast and Valentino [Rossi] has a lot of work to do with the Ducati, but he’s one guy I’m not putting money against. There are 16 or 17 guys who are fast out there, but I would say Jorge for sure. He’s the one with the bulls-eye on his back.”
