Spiesing Up the Show

Its pretty funny to Mwah just how much the exploits of reigning World Superbike Champion (WSBK) and future MOTO GP rider Ben Spies has captivated me this season, especially since he’s not even a four wheel racing driver! (Although never say never I suppose?)

Having already scribbled about Ben spies’s memorable weekend in Portugal where he captured his and Yamaha’s very first WSBK Championship, Spies celebrated his accomplishment with a Wildcard MOTO GP Entry at the season finale in Valencia, Spain where he rode a “One-Off” race aboard the Sterilgarda Yamaha, (courtesy of Yamaha) in an effort to afford Spies more seat time as he prepares for his first full MOTO GP season in 2010 with the Tech 3 Yamaha Team, which will most likely receive much “Ink” (Press fodder) in unofficially being revered to as” Team Texas” as Spies will partner ex-Double WSBK Champion Colin Edwards, who’s already quite pleased with his junior teammates exploits…

Spies qualified on the third row of the grid in a very respectable ninth place, before falling backwards as the race progressed, at one point having slipped back as far as 12th before deciding to put his head down.

Having become comfortable with his new mount, which I heard Colin Edwards tell Dave Despain on Wind Tunnel; there’s simply NO comparison between a MOTO GP and World Superbike “Scooter.” The MOTO GP, which is the two wheeled formula 1 equivalent of Motorcycles simply is the most technologically advanced along with its amazing weight transference, i.e.; how F1 chassis simply react like Slot cars thru the twisty bits; which David Hobbs endlessly marvels about!

Thus Spies began running comparable lap times to his soon to be 2010 teammate Edwards who was lying fourth and steadily picked off rider after rider in front of him, ultimately passing Andrea Dovizioso for seventh place, when the rival Repsol Honda rider ran wide. By finishing one place ahead of Dovizioso, Spies enabled Edwards to secure fifth place in the overall MOTO GP Championships, with Dovizioso winding up sixth, to which obviously Colin was most enthused about! So now we’ll have to wait until next year to see how this satellite Yamaha Team fares, eh?

And it was a good weekend for Team USA, as Edwards led the Three Amigos home in fourth place, followed in fifth by the “Kentucky Kid,” a.k.a. Nicky Hayden (Ducati) and Spies in P7.

Valencian GP: Ben Spies race report

Spies wins World Superbike title!

On another gray, dreary ‘N wet day in the Pacific Northwest, I eagerly sat down to watch the final two rounds of this year’s hotly contested World Superbike (WSBK) Championship Sunday afternoon…

As Ben Spies, the latest in a long line of American Road Racers from the Lone Star state of Texas was hoping to make history against 2009 WSBK title favourite “Nitro Nori.” (Noriyuki Haga)

Yet it was the Texan who triumphantly claimed the World Superbike Championship in dramatic fashion, as the series Rookie tallied his (WSBK record) 14th victory Sunday at Portimao, Portugal; as Spies has had an epic season long duel with perpetual Bridesmaid “Nitro Nori,” as the Japanese rider has been unable to close the deal in a decade of trying to win his first World Superbike crown, while leading Spies by as many as 88 points at one point on his Ducati.

After having won three consecutive AMA Superbike crowns for Suzuki stateside, Spies switched to Yamaha this year four his debut outing in the worldwide competition, as a springboard to a future in MOTO GP - targeting his fulltime series debut in 2011; as ironically Spies was riding for the Italian based Yamaha WSBK Team which Noriyuki Haga had previously ridden for before switching to the rival Italian (Ducati) concern in nearby Bologna.

And after having wrestled the points lead away from Haga in the first round of the Magny Cours double-header, Spies faltered in the second race with what appeared to be the wrong tyre choice and thus went into the season finale at Portimao trailing Nitro Nori by ten points, thus needing to win both rounds in the final race to take the title.

Spies started the week off in dramatic fashion by taking Pole position with a record time enroute to his 11th Pole of the season, claiming the SuperPole Award and setting a new record for most Poles in a season… Before the Texan simply motored away from the field at the drop of the Green flag, before title rival Haga crashed out at the tricky course on Lap 7, effectively handing the crown to Spies, who then held off a hard charging Jonathan Rea And Max Biaggi in third place, as it was the Italian who’d “Nerfed” off the Texan Down Under in Australia at the beginning of the season.

Yet by claiming the victory, more importantly Spies gained a valuable 25 points for first place, giving him a 15 point cushion over Haga going into round two, who’d DNF’ed a most pivotal Race 1.

But you must spare a thought for Noriyuki, who came down with the flu on the morning of the season finale, adding insult to injury on his Race 1 performance, which Haga made amends of in Race 2, passing title rival Spies enroute to a second place finish behind Ducati teammate Michael Fabrizio by 1.195 seconds. (So much for Team Orders, eh?)

Although Spies had started on Pole in round two,, the race shortly became a Battle of the Brits, as Shane “Shakey” Byrne And Jonathan Rea became locked in a mighty “Scrum” for the lead with Michael Fabrizio in close pursuit, as Spies simply wanted NO part in the battling Britain’s and decided discretion was the better part of valor in his title quest, ultimately dropping as far back as sixth, before once again passing Biaggi to finish in a secure fifth place and claiming the World SuperBike crown by six points over Noriyuki Haga, who seemed very gracious in defeat while still suffering with flu-like symptoms during the Post-race interviews; while once again Rea made the podium, but Fabrizio’s victory along with Rea’s third place was enough for Fabrizio to narrowly clinch third in the Championship by a scant two points ahead of Rea.

As Y’all may know, earlier this year Yamaha decided to promote Spies to the ranks of MOTO GP one year ahead of its plans, as the newly crowned Champ will join another past World Superbike Champion at the Tech 3 Yamaha Team in 2010 instead, as Tech 3 will effectively become “Texas Tech 3” when Spies will partner Colin Edwards in his Rookie MOTO GP campaign.

Yet, I’m not sure who was more happier with the accomplishment as Yamaha WSBK Team Principal Massimo Meregalli could not hide his jubilation over Spies handing him Yamaha’s very first ever World Superbike title as a grinning Spies said it would take a few days to sink in; before he jets off to Valencia to partake in the MOTO GP season finale as a Wildcard entry…

Rossi is Champion again

Valentino Rossi once again won another MOTO GP World Championship, as “The Doctor” performed surgery upon his competitors in the wet Malaysian event Sunday, after faltering to an unusual tenth place at the start, he carved his way back to the final step on the podium and thus clinched his seventh MOTO GP crown by finishing third…

The race which was delayed for 35mins by rain… Hmm? Must be Monsoon season, eh? As Rossi’s title rival and teammate George Lorenzo apparently failed to take his place upon the grid in the warm-up and was forced to start from the rear of the field, while the “Kentucky Kid” (Nicky Hayden) had a very good duel with Lorenzo, as the two riders swapped positions multiple times in the wet while fighting over fifth place, before The Doctor slipped by both of the riders.

Hayden ultimately finished fifth, one position behind Lorenzo while Colin Edwards seemed off the pace once again, soldiering home in 13th.

Thus Rossi has now claimed a total of nine Championship titles in his thirteen year career to date and looks set for more, although potentially the competition will be stronger next year, especially now that the ailing Casey Stoner has returned for Ducati and won the last two races…

Sports Cars 'N Stuff

So I was a bit perplexed upon turning on the Telescreen to SPEED last Friday(?) and seeing the wet Montreal Grand Am race in progress… Huh? I thought some of those selected Dudes were busy doing tyre testing at the Speedway? So how’d they do that, eh? And you’ll wanna check out the great pictures that James of 16th and Georgetown has posted of the Daytona Prototypes pounding around IMS; click here.

Also an interesting story written by ICS stalwart Curt Cavin for Indy Star, Robin Miller’s Alma-matar: Grand-Am Drivers want to Race.

Hayden’s good news
After scoring his very first podium of the season at Indianapolis, after holding off a late charging Andrea Dovizioso, the Kentucky Kid, nee Nicky Hayden has been granted a one year contract extension with Ducatti and thus will partner “aussi” Casey Stoner once again in 2010 after reportedly being on the bubble, as the Italian company had been shopping Nicky’s ride to various MOTO GP competitors…

Stupid Pet tricks?
So why does that title make me think of Dan-Dan-Daniker… (Or is that the Danastar, Bill?) As it’s definitely NOT something I usually scribble about, but I suppose Y’all have heard ‘bout Roush-Fennway RASSCAR *Star” driver Carl Edwards having just broken his foot while playing Frisbee with a bunch ‘O friends… Which seems only a little less ridiculous then Jimmy Johnson’s golf Cart follies…

Edwards on Speed Freaks

Colin Edwards, a former two time World Superbike Champion seems like a very entertaining Cowboy from the Lonestar State… And has a great sense ‘O humour too, so you may wish to check out the “Texas Tornado” (Edwards) and the “Kentucky Kid,” a.k.a. Nicky Hayden at the Speedway this weekend… As according to my TV Guide SPEED will air two 1hr episodes of MOTO GP from Indianapolis; Saturday at 4PM and Sunday at 3PM. (PACIFIC Times) Along with listening to Edwards past weekend’s interview on Speed Freaks…

Edwards on Speed Freaks

Scooting down the Corkscrew

"The Kentucky Kid" Nicky Hayden - Randy Owens.com

Otay, so this is slightly dated, since it was sitting in my queue ‘O Memorex viewing while cavorting about the Northwest sans Confuzer the first few weeks of July…

As it’s definitely the first time I’ve ever gotten to watch a “Live” MOTO GP “Qualie” session, which was airing late night (7/04) on SPEED; which I can only imagine what it’s like watching these Mad-men rocketing thru the Corkscrew live, knee touching the Tarmac as they hurtle past “Zanardi Corner…”

And these are truly High Technology works of art, as for example Ducati currently utilizes a Carbon fibre rear swing arm design, while these 800cc Four stroke ultimate “Pocket Rockets” weigh a mere 327lbs and exude 220bhp; giving a staggering horsepower to weight ratio of 1bhp:1.5lbs, while equipped with a dizzying amount of “Electric’s” which would make a Formula 1 Piloto jealous – state of the art traction, wheelie and launch control to name a few items.

And according to SPEED’s Greg White, these machismo leather clad warriors are now utilizing elbow pads similar to the knee pads they use to “touch” the Tarmac with both their arms and knees while experiencing “Lean” angles of up to sixty degrees, with a rubber tyre contact patch surface area totaling the volume of a size 10 men’s tennis shoe!

And the hour long session was extremely intense, as two thirds of Row 1 would end up crashing in the dying moments of qualifying, as eventual Pole sitter George Lorenzo crashed harmlessly before making his way back to the pits to go out on his “Back-up Scooter” with the softer of the two available Bridgestone compounds mounted. Yet next ’07 Champion Casey Stoner would go deposit his Ducatti into the gravel traps, sustaining a bruised hip, while with mere minutes left, Lorenzo would crash his second Yamaha; this time incurring a partially separated shoulder and sore ankle and was carted to the infield medical center via ambulance; leaving Fiat-Yamaha teammate and reigning World Champion Valentino rossi the opportunity to steal “P1,” as both Lorenzo and Stoner had incurred wicked “High-sides.”

Yet, “The Doctor” (Rossi) was unable to pull off the maneuver, managing only to eclipse Stoner on his final Flying lap, and thus, Row 1 was set with Lorenzo keeping his Pole, Stoner in third and Rossi in-between the to vanquished riders, being the only one to show up for the post-qualifying interview…

Meanwhile Stoner’s Ducati teammate, “The Kentucky Kid,” a.k.a. Nicky Hayden managed to nab his best qualifying position of the year – winding up eighth, his first top ten of the season; while Colin Edwards on his “Sudo-Privateer” Yamaha had another strong outing, finishing one spot ahead of Nicky in seventh.

Yet it wasn’t to be “the Doctor’s” day, as the legendary rider who’s just scored his 100th career victory, along with eight World Championships, (one 125GP & 250GP, one 500GP and five MOTO GP’s as the top 500GP class transitioned from 500cc two strokes to 990cc four strokes before shrinking to the curren 800cc limit) wasn’t able to catch Dani Pedrosa on the factory Repsol Honda, ending the Japanese company’s victory drought by holding off the hard charging Rossi. Pole sitter Lorenzo took the final podium step, with Ducatti’s Stoner and Hayden finishing P4-5 respectively while Edwards wound up a respectable P7.

Hmm? Perhaps a trip to Indy is in order? Uhm, looks like I’ll be tied-up this weekend, BUT I’d rather see these rocket ships at Laguna Seca! So may be next year? Although I do highly recommend attending Indy if you’re anywhere near as these Machismo Scooter Piloto’s are simply AMAZING!

A somewhat quiet weekend

Its funny to think of the weekend just squandered, being considered a “Quiet” weekend due to the Formula 1 circus receiving a well deserved break, while the Indy Cars are all settling in for a month’s stay in Indiana. And thus, upon pulling significant seat time in front of the Telescreen, alas I fell fowl to Lee Jiffy’s words ‘O warning about being a Couch Potato this weekend. Since I’m not as technically savvy as Meesh pulling up live streams via le confuzer, nor able to see anything on a tiny 4X4 box, I instead stuck to the tried ‘N true methods of remote control itus...

Supercross throw down in Los Wages
I started the weekend’s gorging ‘O television by tuning into the AMA Supercross finale live from Las Vegas, NV, as I’ve become somewhat intrigued by these INSANE athletes... Thanks in large part to Jefford, who’s a Motorcycling nut, having acquired one of Ryan Dungee’s past “Scooters” for his son Dundee.

Thus, I’ve been pullin’ for Dungee to win this season’s Supercross Lites West title, which he accomplished prior to the East-West Shootout Saturday... In which he finished runner-up by mere inches.

I’ve also been somewhat interested in the made for TV Drama-fest between James “Bubbah” Stewart and Chad “Crocodile” Reed of which a simmering rift has widened over the season with the plethora of Dirty Tricks being played between the two of them, who’ve for the most part owned the season, being head ‘N shoulders above the majority of the field. And after some questionable team tactics in Salt Lake City, Reed was trying to do the impossible and come from behind a six point deficit in the final round.

Thus, I found it most enjoyable to see Paulsbo “Home Boy” Ryan Villopoto on Stewart’s ex-Kawasaki score his second victory of his rookie season, while Reed tried making Stewart crash into the tough bloc’s with an overly aggressive move while stalking Stewart, which wasn’t successful as Reed would finish second with Stewart winning his second Supercross title aboard Chad Reeds ex-Yamaha mount by ultimately finishing third...

New Jersey Soak-fest
Sunday morning I decided to endeavor in watching the Grand Am race live from New Jersey Motorsports Park, which unfortunately was under a deluge of precipitation... And I mean heavy rainfall, as the in-car camera showed a virtual whiteout as Mark Patterson nailed the suddenly slowing Ricky Taylor on the opening lap, causing considerable damage to his Michael Shank Racing Daytona Prototype, as the racing conditions were simply atrocious, as the drivers noted that you could only see about five feet ahead, with many noting looking out the side windows to find braking markers...

Of course much was made over “Uncle Scooter’s” over-indulgence of F-Bombs caught on David Donohue’s in-car camera after the two collided during the finish of the previous week’s race in Virginia. As it was wryly noted how that conversation would most likely not make its way into Scott Pruett’s Children books, eh?

And it was most ironic while pit reporter Brian Till was doing a segment on how rain and electronics DON’T mix, the Telescreen went blank! And then the picture cut out several more times before finally returning. As the Proto Auto Lola, a combined effort between Tracy Krohn and Lola, scored its maiden victory, as ex-Formula 1 piloto “Ricky” Ricardo Zonta simply motored away from his manager Max Angelelli, building up a 40 second lead in the precipitous conditions, as it helps to be ahead of the rooster tails, as Zonta had taken over from Nick Johnson, whose Nordic driving talents had paid off handsomely during the races opening stint, as the Lola’s superior downforce finally paid dividends for the team after developing the chassis the past few years, giving Krohn its first win since July, 2006.

Budget Cap This!
Taking a brief gander on the confuzer, (so much for not logging on Sunday) I noticed that once again Emperor Bernardo is flexing his muskcles, by stating that he’s decided that BRAWN GP will not receive the Honda $20 million prize money he’d promised them after all, since the team’s just doing a little too good for Bernie’s liking... Having even gone so far as saying that they should have kept Honda’s name, since Brawn doesn’t sound good to him!

Is there a Doctor in the House?
For the afternoon, I tuned into the Spanish MOTO GP event, of which I missed the starting segment, hence not knowing why The Kentucky Kid (Nicky Hayden) continued performing so badly... New Team/Bike blues? As unheralded Collin Edwards has completely outperformed him to date on a non-works machine.

And being in Spain, which reports have noted is worth an extra tenth or two for the Spanish riders, it was most impressive to see The Doctor (Valentino Rossi) simply run down Dani Pedrosa, pass him and motor off into the distance, while Ducatti’s Casey Stoner held onto the final podium spot after a late race scare from Pole Sitter Jorge Lorenzo, who crashed with four laps remaining while trying to run Stoner down for the final Jerez podium step...

Tracy’s new Tattoo
“BOSS! Dee Plane, Dee Plane!”
(Sorry ‘bout ‘dat, couldn’t resist, somme-thung to do ‘bout Tattoo’s, eh?)

Thus for my bug-eyed Telescreen nightcap, it struck me how once again, how time flies by as Bob Varsha was filling-in, with Robin Miller co-hosting Wind Tunnel as Ye ‘Ol windbag Dave Despain was taking only his second ever night off... As the trivia question was who was the first fill-in host? It was Ralph Sheheen way back in 2004 when Despain contracted laryngitis... As DAMN! Was it really five years ago when I watched that episode?

Of course I was most interested in the interview with Mr. Chrome Horn, whom seemed overly sedate with his interview, as I for one am looking forward to the Month ‘O May being over simply so we won’t have to hear about the 2002 INDY 500 controversy, eh? As its interesting how the results do seem a little bit skewed in favour of the Speedway...

Towards the end of the interview, Varsha noticed Tracy sportin’ a brand new “Tat.” When asked about it, PT responded that he’s had a LOT of Free time lately and not a lot to do... Which gathered laughter from both Varsha & Miller, as Tracy continued on saying that he’s been tinkering on his cars in his garage, etc. as I seem to recall that he’s also a Harley fan and has a few custom choppers, but just too much DAMN Free time on his hands lately...

Asked about Toronto, he bluntly stated that they need him to be there this year in order to sell tickets...

And they razzed him on his lack of performance in SPEED’s Fantasy Racing League, to which he replied; “I just pick the drivers I like.” And how it’s probably Bad Luck to pick himself for Indy since he really doesn’t like any of the drivers at Indy this year. Yuck-Yuck-Yuck... With Tracy stating, well I like Dario and Kanaan, but I’m NOT going ‘dare for NO STINKIN’ dancin’ contest!

And Miller who was sporting a Head Cold this evening, made the comment during the shows opening segment when a caller asked about why no Will Power at Kansas... That the rumour he’s been hearing is that Penske will farm out Power to his son Jay for Luczo Dragon Racing to run a two car entity after INDY... (But hey, this is only a rumour, eh?)

And for those of you North of the border, eh? With your magnificent TSN, you may be able to catch the Tracy segment buried somewhere on the SPEEDTV website page?

Scooter sound bites

(Miguel Duhamel)
As this weekend brings a close to the Daytona “Speed Weeks” marathon, with the running of the Daytona 200 Friday evening, live on SPEED, the event will run underneath the lights for the first time. Look for Miguel Duhamel to potentially win his record sixth Daytona 200 race, while James “bubbah” Stewart will look to resume his winning ways in Saturday’s Supercross event, having seen his streak of seven straight victories being snapped last weekend at Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Dome...

Spies wins in Superbike debut Ben Spies, the reigning three time AMA Superbike Champion, whom after not getting the nod to move into MOTO GP full time this season, has elected to go World Superbike racing for Yamaha instead. Spies showed his potential by taking pole position for his very first heat race at Phillip Isle in Australia, but faltered to 16th place after running off track. In the second heat, spies was a bit more patient, running behind “Nitro” Noriyuki Haga on a Ducatti, who’d won the races first event, and is considered to be the favourite for the World Superbike title this season. Yet, Spies finally decided to flex his Yamaha R1’s muscle and passed “Haga” in the closing stages and then motored away from the Japanese rider and Italian Max Biaggi who took third place aboard his Aprilla, to win the races second heat and his very first World Superbike race...

Schuey injured in crash
Whale, it appears that seven times World Champion Michael Schumacher is human after all, since the F1 Superstar suffered apparent road rash in a recent “Scooter” accident south of the Border...

Schumacher injured in Motorcycle accident


(Desmosedici GP9)

New “Duc” unveiled
With the opening round of the 2009 MOTO GP season just around the corner, look for the “Kentucky Kid,” a.k.a. Nicky Hayden’s return to the forefront of action, now that he’s once again back on competitive equipment, having made the switch to Ducatti and becoming 2007 MOTO GP Champion Casey Stoner’s teammate, as Hayden who won the MOTO GP crown in 2006 along with Stoner will hope to pressure “The Doctor: and defeat reigning MOTO GP Champion Valentino Rossi this season...

New Ducatti unveiled

Stoner beats Massa
In the traditional Ferrari – Ducati winter team ski follies held at Madonna di Campiglio this past January, MOTO GP star Casey Stoner defeated Felipe Massa in a go kart race held on ice, while Nicky Hayden grabbed the final podium spot.

Kimi Raikkonen wasn’t present, as apparently the Finn had a touch of the flu? (Or simply too much Fizzy the evening before...) While Ferrari tester Marc Gene was at an abortive test session at Vairano, which saw the Scuderia offer Felipe’s younger brother Eduardo an opportunity to come and play in the snow.

Thus, by finishing third, Hayden bested Ducati test rider Vittoriano Guareschi, Luca Badoer and Eduardo Massa in the intra-squad karting race...

Valentino carves up Indy

While the young Sebastian Vettel was speeding his way to victory in Monza, Italy, across the pond, the inaugural Red Bull USGP motorcycle race was also being run in the wet stuff; Hmm? I’m sensing a pattern here... Something about racing in inclement weather on road courses...

As hopeful local hero Nicky Hayden put on his brave face and actually led the first portion of the event, leading 12 laps before “The Doctor” swooped by once again, as Valentino Rossi would make history by becoming MOTO GP’s debutant victor at the Speedway, along with notching his 69th career victory, to become the sports Winn ingest rider, breaking his tie with Giacomo Agostini, who’d previously held the record for 31 years...

Having faced the wrath of Hurricane Ike’s ire over the entire weekend, riders faced horrendous conditions with heavy rain and winds of 50-80mph, as the race was finally red flagged on lap 20, as Rossi’s FIAT Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo settled for the final step on the podium, after having nearly passed Hayden for second place.

And isn’t it interesting to note that the races outcome was partially a byproduct of MOTO GP’s waning tyre war, as Hayden was just one of three riders on the mostly discarded Michelin’s, while Rossi and the bulk of the field utilize Bridgestone’s, as Valentino is now almost ascertained of his sixth MOTO GP crown after having made the switch to the Bridgestone rubber and holds a commanding 87 point lead. Yet, it would have been quite humourous if the French rubber manufacturer could have once again claimed victory at the Speedway after its 2005 Formula 1 tyre debacle...

Meanwhile, in only his third MOTO GP event, reigning triple AMA Superbike Champion and Suzuki wildcard entrant Ben Spies put on a dazzling display, riding his bright blue “Scooter” to an excellent sixth place, while the current MOTO GP Champion seemed to be slightly out of his element in the atrocious conditions, as Casey Stoner would finish in fourth, 19 seconds adrift of Lorenzo. Yet, in the dry, Stoner’s Ducatti held a slight edge in straight-line speed, besting the Doctor with a top speed of 193.4mph vs. Rossi’s 189.8, but we know that top speed doesn’t necessarily guarantee you the quickest lap time and I suppose with the FIAT sponsorship of Rossi’s Yamaha it should have been a foregone conclusion that he’d win the race on the Italian Grand Prix weekend...

Salute and Viva Italia!

Two Wheel Thunder

Well I suppose the SPEED Rip news was centered around ‘dem Scooter Piloto’s since this weekend is the Red Bull USGP at Indianapolis after all... As I was impressed to hear that the “Kentucky Kid,” a.k.a. Nicky Hayden will be leaving his current employer Honda after six years and one MOTO GP Championship (2006) to partner current MOTO GP Champion Casey Stoner at Ducati next year... WOW! I think that’s an excellent move on Nicky’s part and should definitely bolster his chances next year.

And I didn’t catch both names, but did hear that Ricky Carmichael will be possibly contesting next year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona?

And it’s not quite the same thing that Mike King and the Gang of the IMS Radio Network are used to, but they’ll be broadcasting this weekend’s action at the Speedway live both Saturday and Sunday, along with NBC hosting a 1hr show on Sunday @ 12 noon, (Pacific) so if you’re not busy watching the Italian GP, check out Nicky, Casey, “The Doctor” and Ben Spies at the Brickyard...

Spies tests at Indy

At the beginning of July, MOTO GP hopeful Ben Spies, took part in the inaugural “Scooter” testing at Indianapolis in preparations for this year’s upcoming USGP round at the Speedway on September 14th, while the test was not open to any of the currently competing MOTO GP rider’s, Spies, the reigning two time AMA Superbike Champion was allowed to participate, since he’s only contesting the two United States rounds as a wildcard entry.

Spies who will race for Suzuki, took part with other riders as all five manufacturer’s were present at the test; Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha, with Spies making his MOTO GP debut earlier this year, when he was called up to fill in for the injured Loris Capirossi at the British GP at Donnington, qualifying 8th and finishing 14th.

Yet, in the recently concluded Laguna Seca MOTO GP race weekend, Spies qualified 13th, with elder Superbike competitor Jamie Hacking lining up at the rear of the field in 18th, while the top American rider was two time Laguna Seca MOTO GP winner Nicky Hayden, who started on the front row in P3, alongside pole sitter Casey Stoner, with “The Doctor,” a.k.a. Valentino Rossi in the middle of Row 1.

While Stoner and Rossi put on a mammoth Mano E Mano duel ahead of the entire field for the race win, trading the lead back ‘N forth several times... Honda’s Nicky Hayden struggled to retain his 4th place, while Spies (Suzuki) and Hacking (Kawasaki) dueled over 9th place... With Spies finishing 8th with Hacking finishing 11th, while Hayden wound-up 5th and Colin Edwards finished a disappointing 14th.

Meanwhile, at the sharp end of the grid, Rossi won his very first US race after almost throwing it away in The Corkscrew, while Stoner would have to settle for second after having fallen off his Ducati.

Yet Spies, who is currently leading the points in this year’s Superbike championship, hopes to become a full time MOTO GP piloto in 2009, joining the other Americans; 2006 MOTO GP Champion Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards and John Hopkins, as Spies hopes to emulate Hayden’s success on the Grand Prix Scooters…

For Ben Spies comments about MOTO GP testing at The Speedway, see; Spies on Indy

Update
By sheer accident, while surfin’ le Comca$t cable service, (Sunday) I originally landed upon the 250GP Motorcycle race from the Czech Republic, as I’d thought I’d catch a little MOTO GP action during an off weekend... Yet, I wondered if The Big Boyzs were on? And was quite surprised to tune into the MOTO GP race on CBS, also taking place at the Brno circuit... Of which apparently the riders had qualified in the RAIN!

Interestingly I learned that Nicky Hayden has a broken foot (according to announcer Greg White) and wasn’t competing. Well, actually Nicky injured his heel contesting a Super Moto event during the X-Games and the doctors said he could do further damage by racing this event. Hayden will instead stay home to recoup and plans to come back at the next round in San Marino.

And I also found out why I couldn’t find John Hopkins name on the Laguna Seca results, as he’s just returned to riding after having knee surgery... While Ben Spies has had some surgery of his own, riding in pain in the Mid Ohio Superbike races after having his appendix removed two days after competing at Laguna Seca.

Meanwhile, after current MOTO GP champion Casey Stoner crashed once again, the Aussie now trails The Doctor by 50 points, as Rossi cruised to a 17+ second victory in the Czech event...