IRTA defines a rookie as someone who has not completed­ a full season in Motogp. Therefore, wild cards are no­ applicable. But, depending on sponsor I see that plan­ being pushed aside quite easily. For example, Suzuki­ have made it clear they are keen on Bautista and Spies.­ Both are rookies, yet both would land works team­ positions if they materialize. So it shows that sponsor­ power will play a role. Toni Elias is likely to ride­ for Onde2000 Ducati and replace Sete Giberneau who will­ stay on with a position in the teams management. Nicky­ Hayden may retain his Ducati ride, albeit for the­ satelite team as Mika Kallio apparently has an option­ in his contract for a second year with Ducati on a­ works Marlboro bike. James Toseland is likely to keep­ his ride, if Yamaha Japan's head office have their­ way. They reserve the right to maintain a rider at­ their will, and Toseland does bring huge bonuses in­ England where bike sales are extremely higher for­ Yamaha than in America. Yes it's politics! Spies,­ would fit in with the Monster sponsorship deal, which­ requires one european rider and one American rider in­ the Tech3 team. Harve Poncheral is keen on De Puniet,­ being French he'd fit in nicely. He is also quite a­ magnet for sponsors. Infact, some news seems to bit the­ bill that Leon Camier will take Spies place in WSB next­ year along side Crutchlow. Other rumours in Japan have­ been around Ten Kate moving to Moto2 with Johney­ Rea....Guys, honestly this is the silly season. Spies­ keeps things close to his chest and is a quiet guy who­ resembles Eddie Lawson at times. Keeping the options­ open, what about Hector Barbera or Alvaro Bautista­ moving to a satalite Yamaha team run by Aspar racing?­ Apparently with MovieStar back and Danni Pedrosa as the­ lead rider? I have to ask...why else would he have had­ a long lunch with Yamaha's top brass and Pedrosa­ over the weekend?

Since when does acting like a monkey equal personality?

While undoubtably Spies is a great talent, his dour­ personality, and carefully crafted smiles, are similar­ to Pedrosa, this lack of personality [on screen at­ least] leaves the impression that he expects to be­ where he is. the lack of competition for this guy also­ means that the sooner he goes to Motogp the better,­ because we will have to wait for Haga to be fit to­ avoid seeing races with no real challengers which must­ be as dull for Spies as it is to us. Spies Rossi, and­ Stoner would make for great racing, somebody needs to­ keep Rossi motivated, and maybe he could learn a thing­ or two about personality from Vale...

What would be a shame regardless who he went to if he­ did exit to MotoGP, would be if he won the title and­ wasn't there to defend it. Not after such a great­ season so far, coming in and really upsetting the­ pecking order like that. You don't give someone­ like Haga on a bike so well sorted as the Ducati such a­ comprehensive run for his money and be a fluke.­ He's not got that slight swagger of the likes of­ Bayliss (well deserved), but he has the charm off the­ track when interviewed and my god can he race. Who­ would want to see someone like that leave WSB?

Ben's mama is too savvy to let him go somewhere­ that would not be competitive. Mary knows how to watch­ out for her boy!

He obviously wouldn't want non-competitive­ machinery in MotoGP so could he negotiate the­ commitment of Yamaha for full factory spec bikes while­ with Tech-3 (similar to what Ellias has with the­ Honda), as V M suggests? WSBK success might not­ translate directly to MotoGP success, but talent is­ talent and Spies has it. If he wins the WSBK title­ this year I cannot imagine him staying if there are­ good MotoGP offers.

Anyone know how MotoGP defines­ "Rookie". How many wild card and/or­ substitution rides does one have to make before they­ are no longer considered rookies? If it isn't well­ defined could he try to challenge his rookie status?

Yes guys you are right about rules, somehow I forgot­ that.
So Yamaha Tech 3 is possible and best solution.­
(Ben Spies has confirmed he sits high on a list of­ Yamaha MotoGP targets for 2010.
The Texan is already­ being touted for a possible seat in the Tech 3 Yamaha­ squad, depending on how he performs in his rookie World­ Superbike campaign next season for Yamaha’s official­ factory team. Spies’ manager Doug Gonda held lengthy­ talks with Tech 3 during 2008, but new deals for James­ Toseland and Colin Edwards closed the door on a swoop­ for the triple American superbike champion. But the­ 24-year-old has made it clear he desires a MotoGP­ future and is determined to make the switch with­ Yamaha.
“I think I am one of the first people that they­ (Yamaha) want to ride their bike if Colin (Edwards) was­ to retire or Toseland went, whatever the­ case.
"What I’m happy about is that if I decide to­ stay in World Superbikes then I feel that I’m with the­ best team and if I go to MotoGP I’ll obviously be on­ one of the top teams with a bike that can win, “Spies­ told MCN. Spies said he is convinced the Yamaha YZR-M1­ is a bike to suit his style, with the four-cylinder­ machine proving its versatility in 2008.
He added: “Its­ not just Valentino because it goes good with Colin and­ (Jorge) Lorenzo, guys with all different styles. With­ the Ducati it seems that only Casey (Stoner) can make­ it work but the Yamaha seems to get around the track­ whoever is on it.”)

Regarding Ducati it seems that­ nobody want's to ride that bike.
I'm just­ wondering whether in this world exist someone who can­ ride that bike like Casey Stoner?

Well if i was Ben i wouldn't go any where near the­ Ducati that bike will ruin your career.

**1 Honda Repsol­ (Pedrosa out)
2 Ducati Marlboro­ (Hayden out)
3 Yamaha­ Tech 3 - only with full factory­ support**

The first two arent possible as rule change­ means he cant sign for a full factory team - except­ Suzuki as they have no satellite teams

Well, I think there is 3 options:

1 Honda Repsol­ (Pedrosa out)
2 Ducati Marlboro (Hayden out)
3 Yamaha­ Tech 3 - only with full factory support

Jclarke63 you obviously know very little about the­ subject you have just commented on, Spies is a very­ good WSBK rider this has no real bearing when it comes­ to MotoGP. He can not get a factory ride (except Rizla­ Suzuki) due to the rule changes in MotoGP, as for­ bringing more fans what a joke, when you have Rossi,­ Lorenzo and Stoner out there ithink you fool yourself.

I'm certain Spies will be on the tech 3 yamaha next­ year. Should be a straight swop with Tosland.

Well id love to see Ben in motogp and im sure Yamaha­ would too. with 2 rides almost certainly available at­ tech 3 next year it would be a shame if Ben wasnt on­ one of them,
He has proved so popular and would boost­ ticket sales at the motogp races next year. This is­ good news for all involved.
Dont count this boy out of­ winning the championship in his rookie year if he­ decides motogp is for him.