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Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki's Ben Spies (Photo: Brian J Nelson) ยป More Photos
As expected as early as late last season, two-time AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies will make his MotoGP debut in the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.
Spies will race a factory Suzuki GSV-R as a wild card in the first of two MotoGP appearances this season. The 23-year-old American will also contest the Indianapolis Grand Prix in September with Suzuki.
The deal means that Spies will join Suzuki’s regular factory riders Chris Vermeulen of Australia and Italian Loris Capirossi for the two American rounds of the MotoGP world championship.
While a third entry for the US races is yet to be formally announced by Suzuki, sources close to the deal told SPEEDtv.com, “It will happen, Ben Spies will race at Laguna Seca and Indy.”
Spies has his heart set on a full-time MotoGP ride in 2009 and the two wild card races at home will provide the perfect opportunity to impress team bosses.
However if Spies makes it to MotoGP in 2009 it may not be with Suzuki with whom has had a long association including his two AMA Superbike championships in 2006 and ‘07.
Suzuki are yet to confirm a third bike in MotoGP for 2009 and a proposed deal with the Spanish Jorge Martinez’s Aspar team has stalled over the high cost
And Aspar’s most likely candidate for the ride would Spanish young gun 250cc rider Alvaro Bautista who is linked to Aspar’s lucrative sponsorship deals.
Spies may have to look elsewhere with the Kawasaki squad, backed by the Monster energy drink company, one possible option.
The Kawasaki option may also depend on whether the Japanese team enters three factory ZX-RRs in 2009, a deal that would require the support of a major sponsor.
Kawasaki already has American star John Hopkins under contract for 2009 with a second rider still to be confirmed.
“Ben Spies is a good rider although he has always been married to Suzuki,” said Kawasaki team manager Michael Bartholemy. “If we enter two bikes in 2009 then usually we would like to have two riders from two different nations and we already have John.
“But in the end if there is no other possibility it would be better to take two strong American riders than one from another country.”
Bartholemy also said that his current priority is to get Australian rider Anthony West, who has been struggling to match the pace of Hopkins this season, up to speed before considering West’s option for 2009.
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