Ben Spies..... what will happen next year.

[I8A4RE]

What do you guys think? will he be terrible? Was it a good choice?

I think he should have went to bmw in WSB, personally.

And if hayden and rossi are not doing great on the factory bikes, i wish him all the best.

[PhilB]

He's already done WSB. MotoGP remains the top class for the very best riders (until Ezpeleta drives it into the ground, anyway), so any opportunity to be one of the dozen riders on factory prototypes in MotoGP is a better place to be than anywhere else in motorcycle racing. CRTs, not so much -- I'd agree that WSB is better than being on a CRT in MotoGP. But Spies did get a prototype ride in MotoGP, and he's not going to get a better one unless and until he shows the ability to get better results.

It remains to be seen whether Ducati can get its act together, or whether Spies can either, but this is still the best chance for both of them.

PhilB

[scottieducati]

Should this be in the Pit Area or does this qualify as general discussion? Either way, make no bones about it... Spies is an ungodly talented rider who has unfortunately been *cursed* this season. Let's hope the hex lifts, as I genuinely feel he is one of the few in the MotoGP paddock (like Hayden) who doesn't need a "perfect GP bike" to go fast. Many of the cursed riders have come up thru the typical ranks, riding very proven machinery. Spies man-handled an uncompetitive Yamaha to win the WSBK title, and has shown plenty of speed - even this year - on the Satellite M1. It will be growing pains for sure, but Spies has no problem with a bike moving about underneath him, riding the front end hard, and all-around making the bike do what he wants by strength and will power... something the Desmosedici clearly needs. I would not at all be surprised to see him finish ahead of Dovi on a regular basis next year as I anticipate he will struggle coming to "another world" after riding factory Honda and near-factory Yamaha equipment for the past few seasons. Dovi strikes me as a smooth GP style rider, not sure if he'll be cut out for the Ducati... but only time will tell.

[CBR929RE]

Should this be in the Pit Area or does this qualify as general discussion? Either way, make no bones about it... Spies is an ungodly talented rider who has unfortunately been *cursed* this season. Let's hope the hex lifts, as I genuinely feel he is one of the few in the MotoGP paddock (like Hayden) who doesn't need a "perfect GP bike" to go fast. Many of the cursed riders have come up thru the typical ranks, riding very proven machinery. Spies man-handled an uncompetitive Yamaha to win the WSBK title, and has shown plenty of speed - even this year - on the Satellite M1. It will be growing pains for sure, but Spies has no problem with a bike moving about underneath him, riding the front end hard, and all-around making the bike do what he wants by strength and will power... something the Desmosedici clearly needs. I would not at all be surprised to see him finish ahead of Dovi on a regular basis next year as I anticipate he will struggle coming to "another world" after riding factory Honda and near-factory Yamaha equipment for the past few seasons. Dovi strikes me as a smooth GP style rider, not sure if he'll be cut out for the Ducati... but only time will tell.

umm he's on the factory bike not the satellite.

[I8A4RE]

I think Dovi is a better rider for ducati than spies. BUT lets face it. Stoner was the only one to give them a title. credit where credit is due!!

[NPDCPA]

Spies will follow Melandri's path.

[I8A4RE]

Spies will follow Melandri's path.

i am agreeing with that. Seems it is going to be similar.

[xsiliconkid]

He is rolling the dice (not that he has much option) that Ducati will find the magic over the winter

[DucDave]

...maybe this should be in controversial...?

[The Snowman]

He is rolling the dice (not that he has much option) that Ducati will find the magic over the winter

Sad, but true.

[Bkilm]

...maybe this should be in controversial...?

Wait till the snow hits on monday, im sure it will jump that way.