Tony Carter

Tony Carter

All eyes on Spies v Toseland

Fri Nov 06 04:53PM

Ben Spies

What will Ben Spies do this weekend when he gets out on the Yamaha in the final round of the 2009 MotoGP championship?

Whatever it is, it will be with all eyes on the American. With the title decided in favour of Valentino Rossi, a fresh bit of interest will surely grab some headlines; and with Benny boy's elbows-out riding style all shiny and new, will stand out among the end-of-year sore thumbs.

What should Ben himself expect from this round? I think it's entirely possible that he will be looking for a top-10 finish at Valencia.

He's been there before this year, when the World Superbike series landed in Spain, so he knows the track fairly well - and certainly knows when not to push in turn one. He's had a bit of time to get used to the bike and will be oh-so-keen to at least give a good account of himself in front of the rest of the MotoGP lads.

If Ben can really get on it in this last round then he will leave a lasting memory in the minds of those he lines up against.

This is where he can sow the seeds of doubt in their minds as to whether they can beat him in 2010 or not: it is crucial for his plan for next season.

And he'll definitely want to beat the Suzukis, the team that could have signed him to MotoGP a year ago but lost him to Yamaha.

Elsewhere on the grid there will be another rider out there who will be aching to top Spies's result. James Toseland is the man who is vacating his seat for Spies next year; the wildcard sees the uncomfortable and unusual situation where both riders - the outgoing and the incoming - are out on track at the same time.

JT is a hard-edged rider who works so, so hard. He's very professional and will eat bricks if it means getting a few tenths faster round a track. Put simply, he will do whatever it takes; which is also a description you could level at Spies.

So with the pair of them on supposedly identical machinery it will be fascinating to see how the WSB champion pairing square up on Sunday.

I wouldn't want to bet on the outcome, but I hope they both come out of it well and have a great race in Spain.

  • Comments1 - 6 of 6

  1. i really thought j.t. would be making the point here but spies is just 0.187 seconds behind in practice !
    j.t. has two years exp, where spies has had an hour on the bike, good lord.
    maybe their styles tell something cause j.t. is now lapping quicker than speis on the superbike class
    anyway makes for some goo racing next season !

    yingdingFrom yingding on Fri Nov 06 06:36PM

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  2. With luck, spies will get a tummy bug, and mommy will have to carry on wiping his a r se, then Yamaha will have a financial crisis, and all will be b u g gered, Forza Rossi!

    slickegosFrom slickegos on Fri Nov 06 07:21PM

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  3. Go Ben!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    hugh_jorghenFrom hugh_jorghen on Fri Nov 06 10:53PM

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  4. Have we finished leg waving then ?

    arttidescoFrom arttidesco on Sun Nov 08 03:22AM

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  5. Quality leg waving from Casey Stoner before the start that was one way to make an impact at the end of the season :-)

    arttidescoFrom arttidesco on Mon Nov 09 02:16AM

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  6. he done good.

    kitemaresFrom kitemares on Wed Nov 11 05:59PM

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