Ben Spies Ducati Moto GP

[ducpainter]

i'm surprised you can't tolerate it enough to watch ben go through the grind it beat mat. fontana race 2 was just silly.

I realize it's just me...my loss.

I can't stomach him.

I can live without AMA.

I'll cheer Ben on wherever he lands...he's a racer and a good guy.

[gm2]

ya know, i realize he has that apparent matter-of-fact dickhead air about him.  but he's also just as matter-of-fact about not getting it done when he doesn't win.  kinda evens it out.

besides, you don't really have to watch all the non-racing coverage 

[ducpainter]

ya know, i realize he has that apparent matter-of-fact dickhead air about him.  but he's also just as matter-of-fact about not getting it done when he doesn't win.  kinda evens it out.

besides, you don't really have to watch all the non-racing coverage 

It would be better if he never did another interview.

I must admit...I have a hard on about AMA racing.

I live on the east coast.

I've watched some pretty big names race at Loudon...I can drop them if you'd like, although it would date me.

I know NHIS was not the safest track on the schedule....maybe not safe period.

There was a better solution than the one Mladin brokered....

[tufty]

how about who gives a shit about what anyone says or does off-track.  ben is a great rider.

would be interesting to see him on the other tech3 bike... bet that would give tufty conniptions   

You honestly think Ben is a better rider than JT?  If you do then I'm astounded, hell if Colin went to AMA and ran against Ben (on equivalent equipment), Id have to think twice about betting against Colin.

I don't believe that there is anything like the same level of competition in AMA superbike as there is in other superbike series and I think the riders suffer for it.

Flame on.

[desmoquattro]

You honestly think Ben is a better rider than JT?  If you do then I'm astounded, hell if Colin went to AMA and ran against Ben (on equivalent equipment), Id have to think twice about betting against Colin.

I don't believe that there is anything like the same level of competition in AMA superbike as there is in other superbike series and I think the riders suffer for it.

Flame on.

Careful: DMG might sue you for saying that next year...even if they do run a spec tire, spec fuel, do rolling starts, and eliminate right turns

[gm2]

You honestly think Ben is a better rider than JT?  If you do then I'm astounded, hell if Colin went to AMA and ran against Ben (on equivalent equipment), Id have to think twice about betting against Colin.

I don't believe that there is anything like the same level of competition in AMA superbike as there is in other superbike series and I think the riders suffer for it.

Flame on.

outside watching ben and mat i think it's kind of impossible to tell.  hopefully next year we will know the answer to that one as far as ben is concerned.

[tufty]

outside watching ben and mat i think it's kind of impossible to tell.  hopefully next year we will know the answer to that one as far as ben is concerned.

Well we know he isn't used to running with a pack

[derby]

outside watching ben and mat i think it's kind of impossible to tell.  hopefully next year we will know the answer to that one as far as ben is concerned.

Well we know he isn't used to running with a pack

i don't expect it to be definitive, but laguna, indy and the pre-indy test should at least see where he stacks up with the field... taking into consideration his minimal familiarity with the bike and the overall (lack of) competitiveness of the suzuki, of course.

[ducatania]

You honestly think Ben is a better rider than JT?  If you do then I'm astounded, hell if Colin went to AMA and ran against Ben (on equivalent equipment), Id have to think twice about betting against Colin.

I don't believe that there is anything like the same level of competition in AMA superbike as there is in other superbike series and I think the riders suffer for it.

Flame on.

I agree. Mat's a punk. Big fish in a little pond. If he had an ounce of self respect he would have taken his 6 championships to the world stage to see how he really stacked up.

As for Spies, MotoGP will eat him alive. All the top riders have come up through the 125-250 system and not through SBK.  The SBKs are just too different for them to adequately adjust. None of the top WSBK riders that went to "the show" did well there either. Hayden just got lucky in '06 that Rossi's bike kept DNF'ing and he still almost won the championship.

[derby]

I agree. Mat's a punk. Big fish in a little pond. If he had an ounce of self respect he would have taken his 6 championships to the world stage to see how he really stacked up.

first of all, cagiva in '93.

secondly, would you go to world superbike for a significant pay cut?

if your competitive drive was so immense that you answered yes, would you make the same decision as a family man supporting your wife and kid?

[derby]

As for Spies, MotoGP will eat him alive. All the top riders have come up through the 125-250 system and not through SBK.  The SBKs are just too different for them to adequately adjust. None of the top WSBK riders that went to "the show" did well there either. Hayden just got lucky in '06 that Rossi's bike kept DNF'ing and he still almost won the championship.

superbike hasn't seemed to hurt edwards, hopper, vermuelen, and toseland...

[derby]

...while i'm at it, it didn't hurt doohan, schwantz, rainey, or lawson, either.

[ducatania]

superbike hasn't seemed to hurt edwards, hopper, vermuelen, and toseland...

And how many wins do they have, combined?

[desmoquattro]

superbike hasn't seemed to hurt edwards, hopper, vermuelen, and toseland...

Total race wins for these four: 1
Total race wins for Thumbelina & Stoner: many more

OK, I know...loaded comment. But I couldn't resist.

[Jester]

And how many wins do they have, combined

One I think eh?  Verm got one  last year in the wet.