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WSBK: Spies Entering Uncharted Territory
Written by: Chris Martin   
03/20/2009
Iowa City, IA
 
Yamaha Motor Italia's Ben Spies (Photo: Yamaha Racing) ยป More Photos

Prior to taking the world by storm in 2009, World Superbike sensation Ben Spies had already proved himself a statistical phenomenon during his brief but unprecedented run in the AMA Superbike Championship.

In just four short years the Texan put together the type of numbers that fully justified his inclusion on the extremely short list of candidates with a legitimate claim as the greatest racer the storied series had ever produced.

Among those mind-boggling stats were his career 38% win percentage, 56% pole rate (73% over his last three seasons), 81% top twos, 92% podium finishes, and 75% championship mark.

And now, in just two rounds of Superbike World Championship competition, the Yamaha Motor Italia rookie is still at it, astounding
the SBK stat keepers with his immediate brilliance.

While four races is not nearly enough of a sample to suggest that he will continue at anywhere near this pace, his three wins in four attempts and two poles in two tries already puts him in rarefied company.

Consider that he is already on par with Max Biaggi and Akira Yanagawa in terms of career SBK victories, surpassing the likes of long-time series favorites Jamie Whitham, Chris Walker, and Peter Goddard. In addition, he's already tied Ben Bostrom and Anthony Gobert in terms of career poles, surging ahead of Ruben Xaus.

A closer look shows that Spies' first four races already compare quite favorably with the complete rookie seasons of the series' all-time greats:


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