Ben Spies to choose....

I don't want any of the former riders anywhere near our bike. New blood only. The sort with a last name like Espargaro. Crutchlow too should be disgusted enough with Ducati by then to make the switch.

 

No, we want experience. Such as....

https://www.bikesportnews.com/news-...co Suzuki British Superbike seat&newsid=10819

 

One of these days Hopper is gonna have a crash that is going to cause him to spontaneously combust on impact.

 

http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/10/26/ben-spies-announces-retirement-from-motorcycle-racing/

-jim

 

Saw this last night after work. Wonder what he's gonna do now.

 

Maybe he'll buy DMG?

 

Wouldnt that be nice

 

This just in....Spies names Mladin Race Director of newly purchased DMG!

 

LOL!

 

Dude,the ducati is in a different leauge of shit compared to the suzukis. Last 2 years they had alvaro on it and he had 8 top 10 finishes on it 2010 againt a full field of prototypes

 

I'm bumbed...

 

Yeah I think Wrecking Bau did well on it. He's a good rider, too. If Suzuki spends the money they can compete with Yamaha and Honda. IF they spend the money, no on the cheap shit like they tried before.

Does anyone else think The Ben took one look at Hopper and said "No thanks!"?

 

I think that The Ben evaluated his shoulder(s) and knew they would not be ready for 2014. Or he looked at the "open" class Ducati and the sucati superbike and decided to take 2014 off, call it a retirement and get everything fixed for 2015.

But I don't know, he didn't ask or tell me anything but I think he's being smart.

 

I think The Ben is finished with racing motorcycles.

 

Which further leads me to think there were politics involved, not just his ailing shoulder.

 

See, I find this interesting. Dude is apparenty never on a bike with a motor unless he has to be.

Maybe its not that simple, but I just don't see racing mc to be a big priority. Hope I'm wrong though.

 

There is some validity to this I'd say. Unlike a lot of other riders that really do seem to love motorcycling more, in their downtime you'll see them doing other stuff like supermoto, motocross, flat-track, etc etc.

Spies in his downtime only seem to like, as the English and Aussies like to say "pushbikes".

 

I remember reading that in an interview or article somewhere. I remember that it stuck out that he didn't touch a motorcycle from the last race of the season till the first test of the following season. If that's true, really made his speed on a bike that much more impressive. Shame he's going out with an injury, Fogarty had to do the exact same thing because of his shoulder.

 

My guess?

Two chicks at the same time. (metaphorically, if not literally.) The guy has worked his ass for for the last 10+ years. He's 29, and has had a full-time job with potentially deadly consequences since he was a damn teenager.

I hope he goes fucking frat-boy party crazy for a few months, then realizes that he's bored, and comes back to racing on his own terms, with nothing to prove, and no pressure.

Getting back in racing shape will take a little time, but even a great body is only at its best with a sharp mind to guide it.