Comments on: Yamaha’s Retention of Ben Spies for 2012 Very Smart Move (News)

By: tepi

tepi — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:04:43 +0000

OTH he’s been putting on weight fast. He was 39 kg in 250s and 38 kg (84 lbs) in 125s

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 22:51:47 +0000

Most teams have an “A” and a “B” rider (Honda being the exception). Yamaha would probably be most comfortable if Spies continued to be the “B” rider as their memory of the Rossi/Lorenzo days are still pretty fresh. If Spies starts winning, one of the two will probably move.

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By: Roadrash1

Roadrash1 — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:34:36 +0000

I guess it’s all relative. Seems funny to me, that 156 lbs. is a “big guy”!

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By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:33:02 +0000

If he does well next year on the 1k Yamaha will wish they’d negotiated a longer contract because his price will go up. If he does really well this year I would not be surprised if they renegotiate for a longer term and more $$.

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By: Esten Spears

Esten Spears — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:03:19 +0000

The question isn’t Spies ability but Yamaha’s ability to equal the Horsepower of the V-4 Honda and Ducati. You’d think they’d “read the tea leaves” and dump the inline 4 in favor of a V-4.

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By: Ruefus

Ruefus — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:50:42 +0000

He has been a reasonably long-term investment. A year on the R1 in SBK, a year on the satellite M1 and now what will be two years on the factory bike. That’s four years.

He’s at the sharp end, with no shortage of competition for his seat. His performance on the factory bike is improving, but everyone knows that bike can win. It’s either win or we’ll get someone else. It could also be that his performance will need to offset a lack of sponsorship money he brings with him. It’s more obvious in F1, but the best pure racers sometimes get passed by because the financial backing wasn’t there.

Niko Hulkenberg is a prime example. The kid took a pole position, but still didn’t keep his ride.

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By: Glen

Glen — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:27:43 +0000

Go Ben!!!!!!

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By: Gutterslob

Gutterslob — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:31:36 +0000

Not worried about Spies. I know he’s capable of doing pretty well, whatever the bike. Yes, the 1000s will ‘equalize’ things a bit, but what I’m worried about is Yamaha. Can they come out with a world beating bike without the likes of Rossi and Burgees spearheading it’s development? Is Masao Furusawa staying on (I heard he’s very close to mandatory retirement age in Japan). Despite the economic ramifications brought about by the quake in Japan, Honda still have considerable financial muscle over any other Japanese factory for development, and Ducati have Marlboro money plus the Rossi/Burgees dev-team now. Yamaha’s not doing the best in terms of worldwide sales, and both their factory riders, while extremely competitive, remain unproven when it comes developing a bike from scratch. There’s a big chance they might slip back to being also-rans, like the first M1 of the four-stroke era, before Rossi joined them.

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By: burtg

burtg — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:26:55 +0000

I’m very excited to watch Spies on a 1000. Mat Mladin should be proud of how he brutally harrassed Ben all those years on a 1000. It made Ben who he is. Ben should be competitive at the first race for sure. And Hayden, which I’m excited about as I agree people have written him off. He’s a 1000 guy too. Don’t forget Rossi who also won on a 1000.

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By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:47:50 +0000

Pedrosa is only slightly more hefty than an elephant phart. No wonder he’s so fast.

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