Ever since arriving at Miller Motorsports Park, Francis Batta - team principal of Alstare Suzuki in WSBK - had a look on Ben Spies. It seems to be that he is trying
to woo him from MotoGP's Rizla team. This might become interesting on where will
Ben Spies will wind up in 2009. It is great to see another US rider in MotoGP, but
I like him to move up into the WSBK ranks and have more American presence.

Report:
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-batta-offers-spies-world-superbike-alternative/

Placid - 20 June 2008 04:03 PM

Ever since arriving at Miller Motorsports Park, Francis Batta - team principal of Alstare Suzuki in WSBK - had a look on Ben Spies. It seems to be that he is trying
to woo him from MotoGP's Rizla team. This might become interesting on where will
Ben Spies will wind up in 2009. It is great to see another US rider in MotoGP, but
I like him to move up into the WSBK ranks and have more American presence.

Report:
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-batta-offers-spies-world-superbike-alternative/

Its actually quite funny how Batta keeps talking about how Spies doesnt have the skill for MotoGP but is almost willing to do anything to get Ben to his team...........

Spies has the talent to be a lower end MotoGP rider. I can see him running with the likes of DePuniet and an occasional top 10 finish. However with some time in WSB I think he could do better in that series but not sure about a championship.

Personality wise I put him up there with Stoner but slightly less abrasive. Hence another rider I don't really like.

crashman - 20 June 2008 07:43 PM

Placid - 20 June 2008 04:03 PM

Ever since arriving at Miller Motorsports Park, Francis Batta - team principal of Alstare Suzuki in WSBK - had a look on Ben Spies. It seems to be that he is trying
to woo him from MotoGP's Rizla team. This might become interesting on where will
Ben Spies will wind up in 2009. It is great to see another US rider in MotoGP, but
I like him to move up into the WSBK ranks and have more American presence.

Report:
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-batta-offers-spies-world-superbike-alternative/

Its actually quite funny how Batta keeps talking about how Spies doesnt have the skill for MotoGP but is almost willing to do anything to get Ben to his team...........

Spies has the talent to be a lower end MotoGP rider. I can see him running with the likes of DePuniet and an occasional top 10 finish. However with some time in WSB I think he could do better in that series but not sure about a championship.


I'm sorry but that is ridiculous. Did you watch the race or follow it all this weekend?

"Spies has the talent to be a lower end MotoGP rider. I can see him running with the likes of DePuniet and an occasional top 10 finish. However with some time in WSB I think he could do better in that series but not sure about a championship.

Personality wise I put him up there with Stoner but slightly less abrasive. Hence another rider I don't really like."

And you can tell by the fact that, in his very first MotoGP race, he had had next to no time on a brand new bike, riding on a track he's never seen before, on new tires, in a class that is made up of the best ridiers in the world? Wow, that's pretty impressive.

Your assessment is one of the most ignorant (in any context of the word) posts put up on this board.

"Hence another rider I don't really like.".....Like we really give a F%$& what you think think.

this is the first crticism i have ever read of spies' personality. interesting..

anyway, batta should really stop drooling like that. it really is unseemly.

this is the first crticism i have ever read of spies' personality. interesting..

Indeed, most of the derogatory things I've ever heard in this area directed at Ben usually had more to do with his "overbearing" mom than him directly. He may not be everyones' cup of tea but he comes off OK on camera, autographs etc to me.

there have been several who claim his personality is a bit boring... his interviews this weekend were the first time i really paid much attention to him on camera... he pretty much confirmed what i thought about him from his written articles... he does not mess around... totally committed, serious, and honest about what he is doing at the track... i gots no problem with that at all...

his mom is definitley known far and wide for her personality... (closest thing to a dragon smiley we got)

Besides his team manager's praise and the rumors (which I have stated before of interest from Ducati and Yamaha) of teams interested in him plus his on-track performance, the coolest thing was after he was interviewed by the pit reporter the boys in the booth said that you could tell he belonged in GP's and you could tell how determined the kid was.