Whoa! I thought those words weren't allowed... and you are the last person I would expect them from.

Seriously though, it is just friendly jibing. My prediction for Imola? Simoncelli goes for it in turn 1 and ends up collecting Mr. Speis ala DeAngelis. Cut to the complaining.

I don't think, after qualifying, that Simoncelli will be close enough to Spies to take him out, just due to familiarity with the bike. I expect him to ride intelligently and take relatively few risks.

The kid gets carried away at times, but this is not an important race for him.

robertorolfo - 23 September 2009 09:49 AM

Translated: "Yet another excuse for Ben... we need a reason for him to struggle against a has been and never will be."

I can't even begin to comprehend the amount of fail in this.

winters - 22 September 2009 07:48 PM

Yamaha may never race in Moto 2 with Honda motors ,so if Herrin wants to race in Moto 2 he will have to leave Yamaha to do it .

Aleix Espargaro (recently of Pramac Ducati) just completed a test end of last week for Yamaha Spain Moto2 bike entry in the CEV...

yeah the comment is ridiculous - even funnier coming from a guy who's named himself after a never was or will be Ben has tested there, he states he's looking forward to it.

"I'm looking forward to riding on a track we've tested at again," said Ben Spies. " I feel we should have a good weekend coming up as we have a lot of data to go on, we got a lot accomplished at the test. We don't have as big a lead as we would like but I've been in this situation before, it's not so strange for me. As far as I'm concerned, we're going to Imola to try and win two races. We know this is Ducati's back yard and the past has been pretty good for them, so it will be tough. Having said that we have some good stuff worked out with the bike and the team has been continuing to develop so I'm confident we can pull in some good results."

I was not a Spies fan when he was in the AMA (I didn't really root for anyone, just like watching him and Mat battle it out) but once he moved over I've been rooting for him since he's the only US rider out there. I doubt anyone expected him to be in the position he is at this point in his 1st season.

The_Target - 23 September 2009 11:55 AM

robertorolfo - 23 September 2009 09:49 AM

Translated: "Yet another excuse for Ben... we need a reason for him to struggle against a has been and never will be."

I can't even begin to comprehend the amount of fail in this.

You you restate that in some comprehensible language please? I don't accept this "fail" nonsense.

It equates to: what a stupid comment. Just clarifying...

Simply put-
You're statement was absolutely stupid.

I'll remember to be more blunt in the future.

garyb425 - 23 September 2009 11:54 AM

I don't think, after qualifying, that Simoncelli will be close enough to Spies to take him out, just due to familiarity with the bike. I expect him to ride intelligently and take relatively few risks.

The kid gets carried away at times, but this is not an important race for him.

Simoncelli tested the RSV4 at Valencia in preseason testing ,and his times at this Mugello test were competetive his fastest lap was 1:53.5 today which is the same time that Fabrizo did yesterday ,but Haga did a 1:52.3 today which was faster then the 1:52.8 Passini did yesterday on Ducati 800 MotoGP bike . Max Biaggi's fastest time today was a 1:53.4 .

mpa420 - 23 September 2009 12:09 PM

yeah the comment is ridiculous - even funnier coming from a guy who's named himself after a never was or will be Ben has tested there, he states he's looking forward to it.

"I'm looking forward to riding on a track we've tested at again," said Ben Spies. " I feel we should have a good weekend coming up as we have a lot of data to go on, we got a lot accomplished at the test. We don't have as big a lead as we would like but I've been in this situation before, it's not so strange for me. As far as I'm concerned, we're going to Imola to try and win two races. We know this is Ducati's back yard and the past has been pretty good for them, so it will be tough. Having said that we have some good stuff worked out with the bike and the team has been continuing to develop so I'm confident we can pull in some good results."

I was not a Spies fan when he was in the AMA (I didn't really root for anyone, just like watching him and Mat battle it out) but once he moved over I've been rooting for him since he's the only US rider out there. I doubt anyone expected him to be in the position he is at this point in his 1st season.

I know of at least 2 people who expected Spies would be in this posistion. Mladin said he would have the title wrapped up with 2 rounds to spare and Schwantz said he expected Ben to dominate.