Yamaha Factory Racing's Ben Spies (Photo: Yamaha Racing)

Spies explained, "It's still… it's one of those nagging things. We're going to have some more stuff done next week in Italy, but right now it's just something to do with a trapped nerve -- something's irritated -- and I've just got a lot less strength in my upper left back and my left arm.

"But it is what it is and we've just got to work through it. It's one of those deals. We're kind of in the dark about it but we'll give it 100% like we did at Brno. It's feeling a little bit better than it was there but it's still bugging me quite bad. There's nothing to really say or do about it right now. Just have to wait."

He detailed the problem, explaining, "There is not so much pain but just a lack of strength, and definitely after a few laps it starts going down. Again, I've never dealt with any sort of nerve problem. It's frustrating. You know the power is there but it's not letting it happen. It's one of those things."

Spies remains somewhat in a state of disbelief at his bad luck after the issue emerged seemingly from nowhere, 'suffered' while the fanatically fit racer was taking things easier than usual to allow his body to recover.

"There was no real injury," Ben reconfirmed. "I don't know why it happened -- how it pinched or whatever's wrong with it. And it actually happened in a time when we had two weeks off and I did the least amount of work I've ever done in two weeks. It was a break for me and then all the sudden, boom, this happens. It's really, really frustrating, but it's just something I've got to deal with."

As noted, while the state of the works M1 earlier this season didn't seem to be an ideal match for the Indy layout, upgrades may just mean the bike will prove to be up to the task this weekend -- so long as its rider can push for race distance.