Ducati Monster Forum

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/01october09_benspies.htm (http://www.motorcycledaily.com/01october09_benspies.htm)

well he couldn't do any worse than Toseland.

Good luck to Ben, I hope he cracks it. [beer]

the weight of toselands ego is slowing him down.

spies will be interesting, the SBK guys are fast, but really, the moto GP class are a big step up, who from superbike has actually won a GP race, let alone been competitive?
bayliss, crafar, i can't think of anyone else.
who has gone to GP and done nothing? haga, toseland, corser, edwards, yeah there have been old timers come to superbike and they're nowhere near competitive, McCoy, biaggi, checa, hopkins (joke!) and i'm sure there are a lot more, but look at simoncelli, 250GP champion, never been on the aprilia 4 stroke before and outclassed biaggi first time out, that's talent. i wish spies all the best but i'm guessing it will be a hard slog for him.

paul.

with you there Paul, very, very few riders are able to make that kind of change - just look at rider performance from 990's to 800's. Yes, the bike performance is one aspect, but some riders just adapt, the vast majority really don't.

Sorta like Indy car drivers going to F1.  :(

There just seems to be that indefinable line that they seem unable to cross and be regularly successful. [roll]  [bang]

i saw an interview with colin edwards once and he explained that you get used to riding a superbike a certain way and the GP bikes require a whole different technique. confidence was part of it but changing ingrained habits was his biggest problem. he wasn't making excuses for his results, just speaking very matter of fact about how difficult it was for him.
edwards has to be my favourite american rider he doesn't bullshit or whine, and no excuses, just straight talk, must be cause he's half aussie..........

paul.