Ben Spies to return to motorcycle racing

stillwelding
Posts
3187
Joined
1/22/2007
Location
Santa Clarita, CA US
11/21/2017 9:05am Edited Date/Time 11/22/2017 11:06am
|
feelnjstfine
Posts
207
Joined
8/9/2009
Location
Portland, OR US
11/21/2017 9:16am
The last American to be considered one of the road racing world's Aliens, Spies on anything with two wheels is gold!!! Know he was one hell of a motocrosser before he traded knobs for slicks, so I'm sure he will do just fine in the woods.
11/21/2017 9:35am
Not knocking Spies but he was never an alien, that honour went to Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo & Pedrosa. Great rider never the less.
Steadman
Posts
680
Joined
11/23/2014
Location
CA
11/21/2017 9:43am
Well that is pretty interesting. I have no idea of his off-road capabilities but am curious to find out!
flopper12
Posts
183
Joined
6/22/2017
Location
Chillicothe, OH US
Fantasy
2247th
11/21/2017 9:59am
I think this should be really fun to watch. You can't fake fast, and this dude knows how to go fast on two wheels.

The Shop

MelonFan123
Posts
1512
Joined
8/20/2006
Location
Ventura/LA County, CA US
11/21/2017 10:52am
thats pretty cool! I've always had respect for guys that can try multiple disciplines and be competitive.

I have stumbled across his Instagram a few times (i don't follow him, but i think I will now) and i remember seeing a lot of woods riding videos and whatnot. He was riding a lot with Russel Bobbit i think? Also seem to remember clips of him riding with Andrew Short, fellow Texan.

i'll be following his new efforts for sure. Thanks for posting OP
Scull79
Posts
383
Joined
10/12/2017
Location
Mechanicsville, VA US
11/21/2017 11:50am
This is awesome! I remember watching him and Mladin battle it out at VIR years ago. Will be interesting to see what he can do off road.
Titan1
Posts
8592
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
11/21/2017 12:07pm Edited Date/Time 11/21/2017 12:09pm
Keeping his "Elbows" up won't be an issue for him. Smile

As an Off road racer...I think this is awesome! It should draw some much needed attention to Off Road racing...and off road needs all the exposure and attention it can get.

Good luck Ben!
Shawn142
Posts
2598
Joined
10/27/2008
Location
Burleson, TX US
11/21/2017 9:38pm
Not knocking Spies but he was never an alien, that honour went to Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo & Pedrosa. Great rider never the less.
And at Assen in 2011 Ben Spies beat them all on a dry track straight up. In 2010 and 2011 he was a consistent top 5 guy with 6 podiums. If that's not alien it's the closest anyone can get.

11/21/2017 11:02pm
Shawn142 wrote:
And at Assen in 2011 Ben Spies beat them all on a dry track straight up. In 2010 and 2011 he was a consistent top 5...
And at Assen in 2011 Ben Spies beat them all on a dry track straight up. In 2010 and 2011 he was a consistent top 5 guy with 6 podiums. If that's not alien it's the closest anyone can get.

Like I said, I'm not knocking Ben in anyway. Didn't he win the WSB championship at his 1st attempt?

From 2007-2012, Rossi, Pedrosa, Lorenzo & Stoner dominated Moto GP. That's why they was classed as aliens.

http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/Statistics/winners
thesag
Posts
6
Joined
4/4/2017
Location
Roanoke, TX US
11/22/2017 3:54am
I race off-road in north Texas and Spies shows up and races our cross country races all the time. Usually in the over 30 expert class.
Rdracer598
Posts
109
Joined
9/1/2009
Location
Largo, FL US
11/22/2017 4:25am
Like I said, I'm not knocking Ben in anyway. Didn't he win the WSB championship at his 1st attempt? From 2007-2012, Rossi, Pedrosa, Lorenzo & Stoner...
Like I said, I'm not knocking Ben in anyway. Didn't he win the WSB championship at his 1st attempt?

From 2007-2012, Rossi, Pedrosa, Lorenzo & Stoner dominated Moto GP. That's why they was classed as aliens.

http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/Statistics/winners
Yes he did win WSBK on 1st try. He killed it that year. Ben is a great guy on and off the bike. I wouldn't consider him a alien, those are the guys that dominate in GP.

Was hoping he would do MotoAmerica next year.
11/22/2017 4:48am
I ran into Ben at the MotoGP in Austin this year. I hadn’t seen him since he left for Europe and I only casually knew him prior to that. He told me about his new love for off road racing, then gave me his number and invited me out to his ranch to do some riding if I’m ever in town. Sounds like he’s busy raising his daughter and living the good life of a retired racing superstar. Great guy and I wish him the best!
stingray
Posts
55
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Cary, NC US
11/22/2017 7:35am
Like I said, I'm not knocking Ben in anyway. Didn't he win the WSB championship at his 1st attempt? From 2007-2012, Rossi, Pedrosa, Lorenzo & Stoner...
Like I said, I'm not knocking Ben in anyway. Didn't he win the WSB championship at his 1st attempt?

From 2007-2012, Rossi, Pedrosa, Lorenzo & Stoner dominated Moto GP. That's why they was classed as aliens.

http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/Statistics/winners
Rdracer598 wrote:
Yes he did win WSBK on 1st try. He killed it that year. Ben is a great guy on and off the bike. I wouldn't consider...
Yes he did win WSBK on 1st try. He killed it that year. Ben is a great guy on and off the bike. I wouldn't consider him a alien, those are the guys that dominate in GP.

Was hoping he would do MotoAmerica next year.
Same here. Was looking forward to seeing how he would do after a few years away.

As for his alien status, I remember reading an interview with him where he admitted it was a bit of an eye opening experience seeing what the top guys in the sport could do on a MotoGP bike. He talked about how on his given day he was capable of beating them (and did), he knew early on he would never be a MotoGP world champion. It was a good interview...wish I could remember where it was published.
motomike137
Posts
6886
Joined
4/22/2010
Location
Fenton, MI US
11/22/2017 7:45am
I never heard about the shoulder injury that ultimately sidelined him. I always wondered what happened because he sure as hell looked capable when he first arrived over there.
Zaugg
Posts
1084
Joined
9/1/2012
Location
Not California, CA US
11/22/2017 8:12am
Both the brothers are fantastic on two wheels. Here's the guy who won the MotoAmerica Supersport Class (600cc) this year: He might not be at the GP level but he's got some skills on a dirt bike.



Always good seeing road race guys killing it on dirt
Red141
Posts
162
Joined
1/12/2011
Location
Columbus, OH US
11/22/2017 9:24am
Not knocking Spies but he was never an alien, that honour went to Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo & Pedrosa. Great rider never the less.
I don't consider Pedrosa part of this list. If it wasn't for his ties with Repsol, he wouldn't have the HRC ride.
11/22/2017 10:11am Edited Date/Time 11/22/2017 10:16am
Not knocking Spies but he was never an alien, that honour went to Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo & Pedrosa. Great rider never the less.
Red141 wrote:
I don't consider Pedrosa part of this list. If it wasn't for his ties with Repsol, he wouldn't have the HRC ride.
I take it you haven't been watching Moto GP for long then. Them 4 riders dominated the 800cc era, free practice, qualifying, racing. He's 7th in the all time GP wins, 3rd in the all time podium results. Finished 2nd in the Moto GP championship 3 times, 3rd 3 times not forgetting his 125 & 2 x 250 WC's.

Pedrosa has been injured a lot in his career which is probably the reason why he hasn't won a big bike WC. Honda keep signing him because they know he can deliver, he's never ever rode for another brand and he's a loyal employee. Honda also regard him as an excellent test rider.

Paul Denning, who was the Team Principal at Suzuki at the time, was the first guy to coin the phrase "aliens" & Pedrosa was one of them.

Edit: Pedrosa has one at least 1 GP a year since 2002, that's 16 years in a row.
Red141
Posts
162
Joined
1/12/2011
Location
Columbus, OH US
11/22/2017 11:06am
I take it you haven't been watching Moto GP for long then. Them 4 riders dominated the 800cc era, free practice, qualifying, racing. He's 7th in...
I take it you haven't been watching Moto GP for long then. Them 4 riders dominated the 800cc era, free practice, qualifying, racing. He's 7th in the all time GP wins, 3rd in the all time podium results. Finished 2nd in the Moto GP championship 3 times, 3rd 3 times not forgetting his 125 & 2 x 250 WC's.

Pedrosa has been injured a lot in his career which is probably the reason why he hasn't won a big bike WC. Honda keep signing him because they know he can deliver, he's never ever rode for another brand and he's a loyal employee. Honda also regard him as an excellent test rider.

Paul Denning, who was the Team Principal at Suzuki at the time, was the first guy to coin the phrase "aliens" & Pedrosa was one of them.

Edit: Pedrosa has one at least 1 GP a year since 2002, that's 16 years in a row.
I have. I guess my "disappointment" with Dani is that while he has proven he can win GP's, he hasn't been able to win a championship in the big bike class and think other riders like Cal should have been given a shot. You are right regarding about who were called the "aliens" back then - I should have said that I wouldn't mention him in the same breath as the others today.

Post a reply to: Ben Spies to return to motorcycle racing

The Latest