for my opinion on Spies choosing not to mount up in Assen.It seems im not the only one who was disappointed.
From BBC interview

The BBC broadcast of the Assen MotoGP race offered some more insight into Ben Spies not taking advantage of Loris Capirossi’s bad luck to get more experience on the Rizla Suzuki 800cc machine. Suzuki Team Manager Paul Denning was interviewed briefly by Matt Roberts during the race and he had this to say about Spies opting not to ride the available bike:

“[Spies] took his own choice. It was quite surprising for me, personally. I understand his reasons from a competitive point of view, but I would’ve thought it would’ve been a great thing to continue learning the bike. But that’s his decision and that was that.”

BBC commentators Steve Parrish and Charlie Cox seemed to share the opinion that, judging from Denning’s tone as he spoke, Spies had made a poor choice in the boss’ view. With fourteen laps to go, Spies would’ve been at least in thirteenth place assuming he was still in the race. But Parrish went on to point out that since Spies missed the first day, that meant the American would only have had two one-hour sessions and the warm-up to learn yet another new track on the MotoGP Suzuki.

Spies's decision was a smart one. There was a high chance of rain for qualifying and then the race could have been dry. Probably would not learn much in that situation. I also think that it was smart that he did not race because he would have probably rode over his head to keep up, that could result in a crash. In my honest opinion it is not worth racing unless you are 100% prepared, and only the rider and no one else can tell you that.

Typical American Tosser

Saddle time Ben....saddle time.....even if I came in dead fuckin last....I would have gotten on that bike....

confirmed: ben spies is a chicken shit.

Been trying to get my head around Spies decision since it was first announced and in all honesty while I can see his 'alleged' reasoning, I think the decision was wrong.

IMO, if he is trying to impress and employer what better way than by being thrown in at the 'deep end' so to speak and producing a result, any result. Even by riding and failing to finish he has showed that he is prepared for a challenge and more than capable.

Instead, has he shown a lack of commitment to his 'expected' employer and possibly irreparably damaged the relationship? Time will tell.

Or has he actually signed elsewhere?

Brave decision, possibly even foolhardy in the times and circumstances and one has to hope that it does not come back to haunt him.





Garry

what if Ben had gone out - what if it rained - what if he did a hopper and broken his leg ?

how happy do you think suzuki would have been when he's ruined his AMA season

it's his life - if he doesn't think he's had enough track time then that's his descision

While I don't disagree, this is motorcycle racing and accidents/injuries can and do occur. Were he concerned about the wet (or were Suzuki) they would not have let him onto the track at Donnington if they felt it increased his risk of and accident/injury.

But you are 100% correct. It is his life and he can do with it whatever he chooses, but in a fickle world sometimes your decision will come back to bite you, this may or more likely may not be the case here.




Garry

so 1 day less practice leads to a crash? for fuck sake its not asif hes never ridden a bike before. i mean put a 5 year old who hasnt ridden before, then yeah thats one thing, but put a guy whos been riding for ever, is supposed to be a champion and he is too scared. fuck he even just rode the thing the week before.

suzuki should of just gave the ride to anyone of the redbull rookies. that would of shoved it in ben chicken speice of shits face.

whilst i dont doubt spies' commitment (you have to be committed to race and win at some of the AMA tracks), i think this decision may have put a few people off him as a prospective rider.

denning seems quite peeved, and i wonder what the ducati contingent might have thought?
he may have done it for the right reasons, but Ben, you missed a trick here boyo...

I think Ben did the right thing. He didn't rush into something because he thought better of it, on top of the fact he didn't have to. If they want him and if he wants MotoGP. they will have him. This had no net effect.

Link 1
Link 2

i think ben should be concentrating on his AMA championship rather than wild card gp rides anyway, so i think he made the right decision.

There are several reasons Suzuki is peeved:

1. They have no leadership on the Rizla team
2. Spies is notorious for ditching the hard work to get to the races
3. Rizla Suzuki is in crisis

Spies has not shown a lot of initiative. He doesn't politic around and he has previously refused several Suzuki test invites to focus on his work in America. Suzuki are bad this season and you can tell the team is looking for a catalyst or a change. Suzuki are throwing Ben a life preserver from a sinking ship. I wanted to see climb aboard Rizla, but I can't blame him for swiming back to his own boat.

I agree that its his decision and it might have been the right decision,just saying it wouldnt have been the way i would have gone had i been possibly auditioning for my dream job.He wanted the ride for Assen and was told he had it.Then Cappirossi selfeshly jumped back in when he wasnt ready and Spies warned them at that time not to come calling if Cappirossi in fact couldnt go.I think a lot of it was Spies saying i told you so.I think he was miffed that the ride was promised and taken away.Do you think he would have backed out because of possible weather if Cappirossi had not jumped back in.Seat time is priceless,he had a chance for some serious seat time and passed.It is his decision but it tells me something about him.Not that he is a coward,but maybe a Prima Donna.That is the general concensus in the pits at AMA but most is blamed on his mommy who is supposed to be the ultimate Soccer Mom Bitch.

I can't say I know Ben personally, but has anyone considered he may take the JT option and ditch the brand he's been on for a while and jump to a more competitive bike? He's a great racer, but I'm sure like us, he considers the Suzuki a second string bike in GP....I wonder if he's thinking about a brand switch so he's not kissing Suzuki's ass? Any thoughts?

I tend to agree with you and mylexicon. I would like to see suzuki doing better both for the sake of the sport and for the sake of chris vermeulen, but at the moment a factory suzuki ride next year does not look like a great prize. In fact if a 1 year suzuki contract was the prize, one might well ask whether a 2 year contract was the second prize.

He put in by far the most laps at Indianapolis.

On his decision at Assen, I personally would have like to see him get in the seat, but it doesn't really bother me that he didn't.

I wouldn’t go so far as saying they are sinking, like say the Titanic, but they definitely have a hole in the boat and not enough buckets.

As far has him not wanting to do the work…

…….V


Point taken. Not sure what it means but at least we can point to this fact and deduce something, eh.


I agree with all your point here. I have my reservations about Spies for these reasons. But I do root for him against Mladin. I've said it before, I think this may be an effect of hanging out with Mat too much.


Anyway, I still think he made the right decision, even if he might have made it for the wrong reasons. But its entire speculation, so I'm gonna go with the benefit of the doubt and say he made a prudent choice based on not wanting to rush into it.

Does anybody think he may have called Schwantz for some advice on this?



You might be right here. Actually, when Mat Mladin was asked why he never went to MotoGP (apart from a minor test), he said he didn't want to got to a non-competitive situation. Perhaps Spies is thinking the same thing. But to be honest, I don't think he's in a position to make too many demands.

I have to weigh in on the side of prima-donna. The man is still connected to his momma by the umbilical cord for crying out loud. I will bet that it was his momma, not Kevin Schwantz, who made the decision not to take the ride because the conditions were not perfect. I like to believe that Schwantz would have told Ben to reach between his legs and if he feels a pair of testicles then he would know what to do, man up and do his best. I like Ben and I hope he does well but I have a difficult time respecting a man who is hiding behind mommy's dress. Ben's mom has the reputation of fighting all of her little boy's battles for him. Grow up Ben, you are a man now, leave your mommy home in Texas and let your testicles drop. In my opinion he made a very poor decision.

What a croc of shit. You guys know nothing about this guy. Racing on a track you do not know, in conditions that are up in the air is dangerous especially at the MotoGP level. As a racer myself, I know that I do not want to go straight to a track I do not know and go racing. I opted out of racing this weekend with the AFM at Thunderhill because I know I need practice there before I go out and race. Showing up at a track with no knowledge, against a field with a lot, and little time is not safe. His reasoning is he wants to be 100% ready for the challenge before he goes out there, I can relate to that.