...still not exactly confirmed.  but i'm going to keep tourette-posting about it until it is..   

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Sep/090917a.htm

all I can say is I want to party at the hoe-down in the Team Texas paddock garage!

That is my hope, that we can see Ben against the current great riders on their current great machines, and not have a situation where he comes into gp, just as Rossi or Jorge is going to manufacture XYZ on a non-championship proven bike.

mitt

Quote from: mitt on September 17, 2009, 08:58:04 AM
That is my hope, that we can see Ben against the current great riders on their current great machines, and not have a situation where he comes into gp, just as Rossi or Jorge is going to manufacture XYZ on a non-championship proven bike.

mitt

which is why 2011 will be so interesting... ben on a factory yamaha, one of those two guys on something else.  or not around anymore. 

man i hope the latter doesn't happen.

I knew it! The Yamaha contract announcement with one more year in WSBK and a first year in MotoGP seemed fishy.

(MCN is never wrong)

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2009/September/sep1709-toseland-loses-motogp-ride/

they can never be wrong when they report that something is so and something is reportedly so, in the same breath.


and gotta love this one: "Spies’ decision to move to MotoGP will leave British fans without a home rider to support in 2010."

they're actually blaming ben for taking away their british GP representative.  l-o-make the beast with two backsing-l.

King James relegated to being a lowly pauper again...booo-fuuckin-hoo...

i'm bummed for him really.  but if he goes back to WSB and starts riding like he did in 2007, i'm happy for him.  dude was takin' names.

Quote from: gm2 on September 17, 2009, 02:11:38 PM
i'm bummed for him really.  but if he goes back to WSB and starts riding like he did in 2007, i'm happy for him.  dude was takin' names.

Then what?

A Ducati ride in 2012.

Quote from: ducpainter on September 17, 2009, 02:16:47 PM
Then what?

A Ducati ride in 2012.

been there, done that....

maybe he can spearhead the development of the KTM RC8 990 into the series?!?!?!

and he already has 2 wsbk titles.

oh, DUH: 450 singles series.

Quote from: zooom on September 17, 2009, 02:18:12 PM
been there, done that....

maybe he can spearhead the development of the KTM RC8 990 into the series?!?!?!

not in gp.

Quote from: gm2 on September 17, 2009, 07:23:35 AM
...time to start the wagering... 

A bottle of Makers Mark (or equivalent for non Burbon drinkers) says he finishes the championship no better than 5th (or 4th if Stoner doesn't show back up). First response gets the bet.

He's _clearly_ good, but so are Hayden and Dovi and Melandri... I'm not convinced he's Rossi and Lorenzo and Stoner and Pedrosa good. Those 4 are most of a second a lap faster than everybody else, I seriously doubt Spies will match their pace, at least not quickly enough in his first year to be a championship contender.

big

Quote from: bigiain on September 17, 2009, 07:12:17 PM
He's _clearly_ good, but so are Hayden and Dovi and Melandri... I'm not convinced he's Rossi and Lorenzo and Stoner and Pedrosa good. Those 4 are most of a second a lap faster than everybody else, I seriously doubt Spies will match their pace, at least not quickly enough in his first year to be a championship contender.

I won't take that bet.  I luv me some Ben Spies, but I agree completely.  I don't think he's of the same caliber as the Fantastic Four.  Course, that won't stop me from being a big ole fanboy if he ends up making it the Fantastic Five.  Gawd, he's made WSBK interesting this year.

You picked the right three as next in line-- Hayden, Dovi, Melandri.  I'd put Capi in there if he weren't 800 years old and riding a Ninja 250.  We'll see where Bautista and Barbera fall in terms of talent.  I just don't know what to expect from them.  

Quote from: bigiain on September 17, 2009, 07:12:17 PM
A bottle of Makers Mark (or equivalent for non Burbon drinkers) says he finishes the championship no better than 5th (or 4th if Stoner doesn't show back up). First response gets the bet.

let's put this in perspective for a moment... teamed with edwards, you don't think he'll match or beat his teammate?

regarding edwards, if you throw out his season on the cube*, and include his current 6th in this year's championship, he's got a career average championship finishing position of 6.33.

*and who wouldn't want to, including edwards and haga...