Ben Spies. F%^K YEAH! and maybe some spoilers

[gm2]

...and he knows the next track 

[Spidey]

You think it makes a difference?     He seems fine with knowing where the track goes.  He just has trouble distinguishing asphalt from grass.

[Triple J]

He seems fine with knowing where the track goes.  He just has trouble distinguishing asphalt from grass.

 

He needs to talk to Rossi and see what tire choice he prefers for off-track cornering! 

[derby]

http://www.crash.net/World+Superbikes/Feature/146171/1/hagas_son_and_ben_spies.html

[Grampa]

http://www.crash.net/World+Superbikes/Feature/146171/1/hagas_son_and_ben_spies.html

The Ben needs to give Andrew Ridgeley his shorts back

[Spidey]

http://www.crash.net/World+Superbikes/Feature/146171/1/hagas_son_and_ben_spies.html

That's a pretty cute story (crafted for the press by Ben's mom, but cute nonetheless). 

[gm2]

The Ben needs to give Andrew Ridgeley his shorts back

[Jester]

"The Ben" needs to stop tossing his bike down the track every other race!   

[ducpainter]

"The Ben" needs to stop tossing his bike down the track every other race!   

Huh?

He's crashed in a race this year before last weekend?

[Spidey]

He's crashed in a race this year before last weekend?

He crashed at Assen last weekend.  And he lost the front at T1 at Valencia.  So in the last two rounds, it's been every other race. 

[COWBOY]

he also crashed/went off track at Phillips although he got back on track and finished the race (0 points)

[Jester]

he also crashed/went off track at Phillips although he got back on track and finished the race (0 points)

Yeah, my general meaning is that he's gone off track or tossed his bike down the track to take himself out of general contention 3 of his first 8 races.  I just find it somewhat odd since he doesn't have a history of making those mistakes.  Its understandable that he got a little caught up during his first race, but the others have come at the front, which is no different than dicing with Mladin so to speak.  Its just out of character for him to be going down like that.

He's got himself in a little pickle at the moment, as I feel Ben's crashes and Nori's form really requires Ben to keep riding on the ragged edge, shooting for first place.  I hope he doesn't make many more mistakes or the championship fight we are hoping to see might not happen.  4 wins and a 2nd place, yet he's 60pts adrift.  Its a long season, thankfully.

[gm2]

he did not crash/run off of his own accord at PI; he was pushed off.  twice in race 1.

[Spidey]

I just find it somewhat odd since he doesn't have a history of making those mistakes.  Its understandable that he got a little caught up during his first race, but the others have come at the front, which is no different than dicing with Mladin so to speak.  Its just out of character for him to be going down like that.

In prior years, he's been on the same tracks, same machinery, same tires with the same crew racing against the same people.  He now has a new bike, new tracks, new electronics, new tires and new competitors.  I'm not surprised he is making mistakes.  Most people take at least a full year to get their machines developed and dialed in. 

As for the first race, as gm2 said, that had nothing to do with him.  He was punted off track once and went off a second time to avoid an accident. 

Ben wouldn't be much behind in the points (and might even been leading) if Nori wasn't putting on an absolute f'n clinic so far this season.  With all the talk about Ben's pole-setting and rookie hype, Haga's amazing accomplishment thus far is being somewhat overlooked.

[COWBOY]

I understand what caused the crash/run offs at PI but that doesn't change the fact that they were crashes and run offs. They didn't give Hayden his points back after Pedrosa wrecked him either.   The main point is the "problems" are the reason that despite matching wins with Haga he is so far behind.

Haga has ridden very solidly this year and incredibly consistent.  He deserves to be leading at this point and I agree deserves to be getting more press and attention as a result.

I hope Ben gets it sorted and gets more consistent because I love watching him race and it's great seeing an American win on the world stage.  I'm rooting for him big time.