Ben "Elbows" Spies
Well, in just one season Mr. Spies has accumulated several prestigious accolades, but, let’s not forget the 3 consecutive AMA Super Bike Championships from 2006 – 2008 he won competing against a certain Matt Mladin for Suzuki. However, we could start with another obvious one – the World Super Bike Championship in his rookie year and becoming the first American since Collin Edwards in 2002 to capture the title? Maybe I should also mention it was the first World Super Bike win for Yamaha? Or perhaps the record for most pole positions in a season with 11 and the fact that he won the championship with 14 race wins in 28 starts….batting .500 anyone?
I’m sure we have all heard enough about the 25 year-old’s exploits in the World Super Bike arena by now though, so let’s talk about the few forays into MotoGP that he has had. It started in 2008 with 3 rides for Suzuki during the season including a 6th place finish at Indianapolis. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Mr. Spies, (is he old enough to be called Mr. yet?), started from 9th and finished 7th at the 2009 season ending race in Valencia just this past weekend. I guess that all of this makes his announcement to “cut short” his World Super Bike contract and make the jump to MotoGP one year earlier than originally planned not quite as surprising. In fact, Ben will be partnered with fellow Texan and World Super Bike Champion Collin Edwards next year on a Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team – can anyone say “Yee Haw!”?At the season ending test for Yamaha at Valencia, Spies turned in some lap times amongst very fast company posting a time .4oo’s behind Rossi and one of only 5 riders lapping under 1′33″ including the reigning 09 MotoGP champ, Lorenzo, Stoner, and Hayden.
Whether you are a fan of Yamaha, Texas, and rookies or not, Hollywood couldn’t script a better tale of determination, grit, and just plain talent. For those of us who “root for the man” and not the machine, sponsor, nationality, etc., surely we have found another potential suitor worthy of approaching our hallowed halls of heroism. I for one will be watching the upcoming season of MotoGP with renewed interest in each outcome, sitting on the edge of my seat, hoping to perhaps catch a glimpse of “Elbows” coming around a final turn in a three-way battle for the top of the podium.
