MotoGP – Ben Spies will race with the number 11

The most awaited among the possible "newcomers" of the 2009 MotoGP. Ben Spies, the reigning double AMA Superbike champion, continues to see the European motorcycling universe very close to him. Thanks to his mentor Kevin Schwantz, the Texan managed to get the wild-card this year for the Laguna Seca and Indianapolis Grands Prix, where he will race with a third official Suzuki GSV-R. “Elbowz” (this is his nickname, let's remember it) will thus begin his approach to next year's MotoGP, refining his knowledge of the category after last November's starter in Valencia, when he tested Hamamatsu's 800cc for the first time .

However, Spies will not arrive unprepared for the two American races in the top class. In fact, it will be involved in the second week of July at the collective tests in Indianapolis, where non-starting drivers designated by the manufacturers will take part to select the tires in view of the GP in September.

Ben Spies was chosen by Suzuki for this role, and will thus be able to know the Indiana track in advance and help Paul Denning's team in choosing the tires and balance in view of the actual Grand Prix. The Texan is already preparing for this event (without losing focus on the AMA Superbike, where he finished second in Daytona and will race at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend), trying to obtain table #11 for these two events, the lucky number with who won the first AMA title between Superbike and Superstock.

There shouldn't be any problems in this regard, while it is more complicated to better understand the prospects for 2009: Suzuki is third, yes, but who will line up? In the coming weeks these details will be "adjusted" in order to have official confirmation of the Texan's commitment to the upcoming MotoGP.

Alessio Piana