Ben Spies Ducati Moto GP

[derby]

And how many wins do they have, combined?

1 win, 18 podiums, 6 pole positions.

i'd hardly call that "eaten alive".

[desmoquattro]

1 win, 18 podiums, 6 pole positions.

i'd hardly call that "eaten alive".

...and I bet Edwards accounts for 5 of those 6 Poles 

[derby]

...and I bet Edwards accounts for 5 of those 6 Poles 

2, actually.

[desmoquattro]

2, actually.

Hmm...just recalling all the talk on this board about Edwards doing well in qualifying 

Suffice it to say that it's nice to see SBK riders doing well in GP. But the results over the past 1.5 years seem to favor the guys from the support classes. In any event, I'd welcome Spies to GP. Just as long as he doesn't displace Vermuellen or Capi.

[gm2]

In any event, I'd welcome Spies to GP. Just as long as he doesn't displace Vermuellen or Capi.

the rumor, theory, whatever is that they would run a third bike.

[tufty]

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

Come on now, firstly JT is less than 1/2 way through his rookie year straight from WSBK and he's in the top ten and all but one of the tracks so far are unfamiliar to him. As for Verm, Edwards and Hopper in all fairness it's not like they've been on truly competitive rides in the last couple of years either. I think it's way too early to rule out SBK as a good entry vehicle for GP.

[sqweak]

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?

you're kidding right? 

Even the schlubs in MotoGP are making 7 figures.  I think he can still manage to feed and house his family after that pay cut.

[derby]

you're kidding right? 

Even the schlubs in MotoGP are making 7 figures.  I think he can still manage to feed and house his family after that pay cut.

no, i'm serious.

mladin made $7M last year to stoner's $4M.

but it's unlikely that he would've gotten (another) gp ride, so worldsuperbike is the only other "world" series he could've gone to.

ama superbike > worldsbk = paycut likely measured in millions (hodgson mentioned this before)

in addition to the dock in pay, there is significantly more (international) travel involved. mladin likes to rv (or fly his plane) to the races so he can spend more time with his wife and kid.

speaking of former world champion hodgson, even he prefers racing in the US... does that make him a cherry-picking pussy to?

[tufty]

Methinks Stoner only made a measly 4M because he was an unknown quantity and expected to be a seat filler. I'd bet he's making a tad more this year.

[derby]

Methinks Stoner only made a measly 4M because he was an unknown quantity and expected to be a seat filler. I'd bet he's making a tad more this year.

i've always said that the '07 motogp world championship was the cheapest one ducati has ever won. plus they got a lot of help from michelin, honda, and yamaha. 

that said, what would mladin make in gp? what kind of "known quantity" would he be? why give up his $7M a year to be a question mark?

[sqweak]

I'm not disagreeing that it's a paycut Derby, I'm just disagreeing with you presenting it like it would jeopardize him providing for his family.

[derby]

I'm not disagreeing that it's a paycut Derby, I'm just disagreeing with you presenting it like it would jeopardize him providing for his family.

you said "jeopardy," not me...

i said that, from a family man supporting his wife and kid, the smart thing to do is stay on his current team making $7M a year instead of taking a pay cut.

it's a really easy concept to digest...

in the "pro" column, you have "spend a lot time with the wife and kid, and $7M a year guaranteed until you want to retire"

in the "con" column, you have "travel around the world 9 months out of the year, take a pay cut, and hope you have a job in 2 years.
 

[gm2]

he's also at the end of his career now.  a move to wsbk or gp would mean not being competitive for a while.  he probably doesn't have that time.

he has two kids now, btw.

[derby]

he's also at the end of his career now.  a move to wsbk or gp would mean not being competitive for a while.  he probably doesn't have that time.

yup...

he's 36, which is ancient in racer years. even if you argue that he should've gone 4-5 years ago, that's too old for a team to invest in a limited quantity*.

and before you cite bayliss (39 this year) as an example, he was in the right place/right time for his original ducati ride in worldsuperbike. if he hadn't already been with factory ducati in the ama when foggy had his career-ending incident, it's quite possible he never would've been considered for that ride.

for reference it looks like biaggi is pulling down "only" $1M a year in world superbike.

i'm pretty sure i wouldn't enjoy taking a $5-6M paycut.

*at least it was then... with dmg making changes to the "ama pro racing" class structure, rumors abound that zemke (32) and hayes (33) are both being talked to about world superbike rides for next season.

[sqweak]

you said "jeopardy," not me...
 

you said

would you make the same decision as a family man supporting your wife and kid?

We're arguing about tone.  Do you not recognize that worded like that it implies that he would somehow not be able to support his family on a measly $4M/yr?  We're not talking about you or me taking a paycut in tens of thousands of dollars, which *would* impact our ability to provide a specific quality of life for our families, we're talking about the difference between "stupid money" and "insane money".