Ben Spies to leave Yamaha
The American will part ways with the company he has raced with since 2009. And who's tipped to replace him in? None other than Valentino Rossi…American Ben Spies has broken the news of his departure from Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad at year’s end via en email sent to an American motorcycle website.
This is what the Texan told www.superbikeplanet.com: “I have chosen to leave Yamaha after this season for a litany of reasons. I will explain more when I feel it is appropriate. I’m discussing my situation with my sponsors and they are behind me. There are a few people at Yamaha who I hate to leave. And they know who they are. I wish Yamaha the best. I won’t make any further comments until the official announcement comes out.”
Spies, the 2009 World Superbike (WSBK) champion, has since used social media to say that he’s “pumped” for next season, but where and for whom will he be riding for?
Some pundits are predicting a return to WSBK, where we’ve yet to see one official announcement of rider line-ups for 2013. And if Spies does land back in the production title, he could replicate Aussie Troy Bayliss and slot home a few more titles before he retires back home to America.
But if he does head to WSBK, it won’t be with Yamaha, which culled its factory squad at the end of 2011.
Spies’ likely new home will create plenty of intrigue over the next few days – we should find out his 2013 plans at the pre-event press conference for this weekend’s Laguna Seca MotoGP round – but the real spice will be who gets the second seat at Yamaha next year?
Will Andrea Dovizioso or Cal Crutchlow be rewarded for stellar seasons on satellite Yamaha MotoGP bikes, or could we be seeing Italian juggernaut Valentino Rossi return to the Japanese manufacturer after two horror years at Ducati?
Rossi’s the current favourite, where he’s tipped to be bringing across a blue-chip sponsor.
And if that happens, Rossi’s likely return to the front of the pack would compensate in some way for the loss of Casey Stoner, who’s rumoured to be close to signing a V8 Supercar deal with the Queensland-based Triple Eight Racing for 2013.
So many stories and so little confirmation… Just yet – stay tuned for some big announcements.
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