Spies to Aprilia in WSBK for 2010 ?
 

:whatwhat: I hope not but...


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This time of the year of every year, it’s considered silly season. It is when the riders of professional motorcycle racing gets into negotiation mode for their following year ride and salary. Some stays, some will switch racing series, and some will switch teams.

Rumors are running around that Ben Spies, WSBK rookie-superstar is negotiating with Aprilia for a ride with Max Biaggi for 2010. Ben Spies is raising his asking price to 1.1 million Euros which is 10% more of what he’s currently receiving from Yamaha. Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Division Manager, Laurens Klein Koerkamp has not confirmed an agreement with Ben Spies’s new asking price. On the other hand, Aprilia is more than happy to let go Shinya Nakano for the new WSBK sensation and pay for the asking price. Aprilia’s racing manager Giampiero Sacchi has said: “If he wants to, he can sign with us right away.” In addition, Tech 3 Yamaha wants to sign Ben as well, where would he go? It’s not surprised to see the Texan receive so many offers since he’s been putting on an excellent performance with brand new tracks, brand new team and brand new bike.

Can't blame him, how many points has he lost due to technical issues in the first half of the season?

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Agreed, Yamaha lost him the championship. That's part of the game though. I hope he stays with Yamaha, with a little better reliability he could win a championship next season.

You guys really think that Aprilia would offer less issues that he has had with the FACTORY Yamaha team? :scratch:

For a 10% difference, I'd stick with Yammie. With the exposure and sponsorships I'd be willing to bet he could stay and still come out ahead.

About the same as he lost by dumping himself on his head for the first time(s) in 3 years.

Yea we agree on something. I could swear that I've heard that Biaggi is having problems with the bike. Quite frankly, if he wasn't why isn't he doing better in WSBK?

Oh shoot, it's getting weird! I was thinking that too! He's definitely done some of the damage himself!

He has, it's probably 50/50 so far.

It's been about 3 wrecks and 3 technical difficulties, I think. At any rate, it's not helping him.

As far as Aprilia being better... probably not. But after his last race you can't blame him for showing Yamaha he's willing to play the field, either.

I agree tech problems aren't helping the issue. Running out of fuel? That is inexcusible.

I don't blame him for shopping.

I'd be shopping with Ducati and Suzuki but to think that Aprilia offers a better shot than Yamaha is a bit optimistic.

I'm sure BMW would hire him too. :lol:

Especially in the last turn after fending off 2 Ducati's for the whole race. I can't imagine how upsetting that would be.

And I have no idea what happened to him in race 2 last weekend, but if I were his Chief Tech., I'd have been on a plane before Ben made it back to the paddock.


No kidding. He'd be insane on a Ducati, but I don't know if they'll have an opening next year with Haga's and Fabrizio's contracts? Do they run multi-year deals in WSBK?

the ape at least has kept its problems to superpole and qualification.

front end stability issues mostly (i think) but if you think about it ben is quite a bit taller than max, might not be as much of an issue for him since im sure he'd have more mass over the front wheel. my guess anyway. if this doesnt happen i wouldnt be at all surprised to see them snatch up johnny rea. kid has really been coming into his own in the last few races. def expecting big things out of him at donnington

his clutch gave out

I hear Kawasaki might have an opening...:lol:

Yea no offense against Biaggi but he said the M1 was a piece of crap and Valentino won a MotoGp championship on it the next year... Maybe the right man in the saddle might make a difference....:idk:

That would be ideal for him.

But i'd hold on to the yami, or look for a zuk or duc ride for sure.
But like you said, i dont think duc has a spot for him just yet.

i suppose the question ought to be has anyone else done well on the m1 besides rossi? and i would LOVE to see spies on a zx10 next year. even things out, thats for damn sure

I thought Edwards did okay on it....:idk:

Yeah but that Lorenzo kid sucks.

Must be the bike.

POS

Yea this is a TOTALLY different bike from when Biaggi rode it, so I was smart enough not to try and compare it to the bike Max rode. On the other hand, Colin Edwards did ride the same bike so...

Yeah I know. :lol:

I'm just sick of hearing: "Only this rider can ride this bike"

Only Pedrosa can ride the Honda, only Stoner can ride the Ducati, only Rossi can ride the Yamaha, etc.

Hey that's a fair complaint! It does seem that way A LOT! There is a SHITLOAD of 1st row- 6th row discrepancies between the "A" rider and the "B" rider in every camp but Yamaha. To my mind that says superior team and/or superior machine.:rockwoot: Everyone knows how I feel about "Mr Excuses" Nicky Hayden, most dominant bike on the grid in previous years (both the Honda and the Ducati) and he can barely muster a 10 ten finish. It's always the bike/team's fault. Yeah I'm sure that Honda spent millions of dollars to put you on the grid only to abandon and not support you during the race season...yeah sure. Apparently, Ducati is doing the same thing...BASTARDS!!!:lol:

they should just let the rider pick what bike they wanna ride at the start :lol:

Dude that would be awesome!!! Maybe a lottery or better yet a footrace and you jump on the bikes and go! I think a different manufacturer should provide all of the bikes for every round. You get the bike per lottery and away you go!!! A couple practice sessions, superpole and then race!!!:lol:

I can understand Ben wanting to change up now that he proved that he "can hang with the big boys". I really wonder though is Aprilla really an org that can handle a rider like Ben? Just a personal opinion I would love to see him on a duc but that's only because I love the Ducs.

I'd like to see him on anything except Ducati, they have the most dominant bike. I see no reason to give them the most dominant rider as well!

Those Ducati bikes impress the hella outta me.

See your point but..... I would love to see what he can really do with all the "might" of the best behind him. With the right backing how far could he take it???? How good could he really be?
Pluse to be crude sexy guy on a sexy bike :dribble: Sorry I had to go there had a few wiskey sours tonight :lol:

nah do it by footrace. and to make things interesting you start in reverse order of your last finish. so the last guy who won is the furthest away from the bikes when the gun goes off ;) manufacturer's points stay the same, just peel the riders off. no practice, no superpole, no samesies for race two.

I don't think he will bounce around onto another WSBK team. Yamaha will probably pay him more, if it is the money. The only reason I think he would move is for a GP ride. Who would blame him?

It would be something if he wins.

qft!

Agreed.

i couldnt see him going to GP. not unless they fix the competitiveness, in sbk he has a reasonable shot with whatever team he lands on. gp he'd only have one if he landed a top team. why risk black marks on your career?

Well he risked these same "black marks" when he went from AMA to WSBK didn't he and that has sure worked out.

Jamie Hacking sure can't say the same.

I do agree though it would be another big risk.


"Rossi and Spies round the last corner...coming down the straights...who's gonna take it ?!?!?!? " I can hear it now. :lol:

Question is though...what will Ben be riding ?


I hope he stays with Yamaha in WSBK.

Man. I really need to get through watching all of these races. I've got em on the comp now, just not enough time to watch em all.

worked out too well is what im saying ;) and isint rossi trying to get a wsbk seat? He cant be happy in the land of thirty seconds between positions

It must be nice to be that rich and talented and having that much fun !!

Just to think...to get bored doing something like that and have the options that they have. :lol:

and thats just the job! Some of these guys have shit ridiculous personal lives too

I'm jealous !!!! :lol: :lol:

Shit, I'd take your life right about now!!!:drool:

Yeah total horeshit..I mean running out of fuel? Among other things.

He would be so far ahead (instead of only 16 down) if the team and bike had their acts together.

He's not going GP unless he takes WSBK regardless of whoever offers him a GP ride.

:lol: Dayum just saw this...well yours doesn't sound too shabby...you're always buying something it looks like plus I'm not banging a 21 year old blonde these days. :lol: :lol:

Yea well, I don't have a 'Vette in the garage or a house in Lake Norman... not too shabby, buddy! Besides, I hear your wife isn't exactly cracking mirrors or anything!:drool:

Well with all of the death talk in the news lately I'm just glad to be alive and healthy. I've sure done enough stupid things and took enough chances that had it gone differently I may not be here but hey that's what keeps life interesting so I don't see me stopping anytime soon. I imagine you can relate...just from reading some of your post. :lol:

Yes being alive is definitely a good thing!:rockwoot:

Very good point, but I think Spies has made it pretty well known if he could get a mount with a factory team he aspires to GP. I think at Yamaha he is positioned to be potentially #2 because Rossi is young, believe it or not, and he is going to continue to dominate.

If I were Spies, but I am not, I would be happy at WSBK for a period of time. Look what it did for Bayliss who dominated there. He's a bit of legend himself.

The part I can't figure out is what would motivate him to leave factory Yamaha to go to Aprilia? I don't know all the ins-and-outs, but how does that improve the situation for him?

thanks -z

IMHO it doesn't really but if they offer more $$...hey...that's what makes the world go around.

Also since most of the races are in Europe...maybe he'd be even more popular over there riding an Italian machine ?

I'm sure some will say because his Yamaha has had some issues blah...blah...blah...but it's a first year design and will only get better so that really isn't an issue imho. :idk:

I would stick with Yamaha just for the reason you point out. The new R1 cross plane crank bike is smoking. I almost bought one instead of my RC8. I test drove it twice and may do so again this weekend. I don't have any dough left to buy one, but the dealer has been very good about it.

I haven't ridden one but love the sound with aftermarket exhaust. I forgot you have the RC8...cool bike !!