SPIES: confirmed MotoGP Wild Card

[ÜberDoober]

MOTOGP: Spies Set for Wild Card Rides
Written by: Colin Young 05/07/2008 - 12:24 PM

As expected as early as late last season, two-time AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies will make his MotoGP debut in the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Spies will race a factory Suzuki GSV-R as a wild card in the first of two MotoGP appearances this season. The 23-year-old American will also contest the Indianapolis Grand Prix in September with Suzuki.
Source: SPEEDtv (LINK (http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-spies-set-for-wild-card-rides/))

Well, we all knew this was coming and let's hope Ben makes the best of these two opportunities. The last MotoGP story from Autosport was yet another article pimping how much Capirossi intends to stay with Suzuki. That makes 3 or 4 headlines about the same thing now. If Ben puts on a show is it curtains for Vermeulen next year or is that handwriting already on the wall?

[mrmega]

I have to say I was really pulling for Chris V. to do something in motogp. What does he have 1 wet win?

How many podiums... I am going to guess its 3. Whatever it is I have to admit that if it were my team I would be looking elsewhere. Cappi and Spies? Doesn't sound to shabby actually. Have Loris develop the bike, race to win and concurrently build a future with Spies in mind (and hope he has the right mix of skills to effectively communicate with the team so you have the best bike/rider combo possible through development)

[Gary]

Rumors (which are basically worthless) have Vermeulen out of Suzuki at the end of the year if he doesn't step it up, who knows if it's true. The latest rumor was Capirossi and Spies in separate teams run out of the same garage a la Rossi/Lorenzo, but I thought Suzuki wanted to run a 3rd bike. At this point it's hard to say if 'rumors' are just guesses.

[mrmega]

I am calling this the super "IF" post......

IF the rumours are true and IF it were my team and IF it were going to man 3 bikes, and IF Chris V doesn't show anything else....it would be Capi, Spies and lets say Chris V is out... who would a good 3rd candidate be?


Lets rule out the rest of the current grid.... who in a lower class, WSB or SBK would be a good fit?

[ÜberDoober]

Jeebus! Four races in and we're talking silly season already! :ack2:

I speculated in another thread (here (http://www.dooberville.com/forums/showthread.php?t=646)) about Rog Hayden not being able to take advantage of the wild card rides expected to be offered by Kawasaki. :(

[Gary]

I am calling this the super "IF" post......

IF the rumours are true and IF it were my team and IF it were going to man 3 bikes, and IF Chris V doesn't show anything else....it would be Capi, Spies and lets say Chris V is out... who would a good 3rd candidate be?


Lets rule out the rest of the current grid.... who in a lower class, WSB or SBK would be a good fit?

If the third bike is run by Aspar Martinez, Bautista.

[KingKenny]

Rumors (which are basically worthless) have Vermeulen out of Suzuki at the end of the year if he doesn't step it up, who knows if it's true. The latest rumor was Capirossi and Spies in separate teams run out of the same garage a la Rossi/Lorenzo, but I thought Suzuki wanted to run a 3rd bike. At this point it's hard to say if 'rumors' are just guesses.
Your a genius Gary! :p:uplaugh::transport-040: