Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki's Ben Spies and Mat Mladin (Photo: Brian J Nelson) » More Photos

Spies is no stranger to competing with injuries. He raced his first two seasons as a pro with a bad knee, before having surgery to correct the problem. In 2006 he won his first AMA Superbike title despite riding with a broken hand late in the season. Earlier this summer Spies won a Superbike race in Elkhart Lake , Wis. , setting an all-time AMA Superbike winning streak record, just hours after receiving stitches in his chin.

Spies comes to Mid-Ohio with a 36-point in the AMA Superbike standings after 12 of 19 rounds.

“Sometimes in this profession you’ve got to go out there even when you’re not 100 percent,” Spies added. “I’m a fast healer and my doctors know my situation and are helping me to get back to health as quickly as possible. We’ve got a long way to go in the championship and I want to get back to winning races as quick as possible.”