MotoGP: Ben Spies – a world champion in the making?

Pride is not in short supply in America, so it came as no surprise that when the MotoGP warriors rode into Indianapolis, all eyes were focused on the Americans on the grid – Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards and rookie Ben Spies.

Nicky Hayden (World Champion 2006) and Colin Edwards are not having the memorable season they were hoping for. Ben Spies on the other hand has forgotten his rookie status, his on track exploits thus far have raised several important eyebrows. He has taken his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine by its fairings and he has been riding the black off its slicks at each circuit! Despite being down on power in comparison to the factory machines, he has managed to steal valuable points from stronger teams.

His impressive performance continued at Indianapolis, when he silenced the grid by taking his first MotoGP pole, becoming the first rookie to qualify on pole. When you consider the caliber of riders, past and present, who have sat on a MotoGP machine, you may begin to think that it must take a special rider to have this accomplishment on his resume.

Red Bull Indy GP

The 100,000 plus fans at the Red Bull Indy GP stood, as the revs rose and Spies led the field into turn 1. He led lap 1 and went about trying to gap the field. His game plan had success until a missile labeled Repsol Honda, being directed by the wrist of Dani Pedrosa, shattered his bunker and blew by on the start- finish straight.

Spies struggled a bit with a bike hell-bent on drifting through some of the turns, so an honorable defense to Pedrosa’s attack wasn’t possible. Pedrosa’s gaze was steadfast on the checkered flag. He remained consistent throughout and rode to a convincing victory. Spies did enough to keep the US fans on their feet and he brought his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine home comfortably in second.

Thanks to Pedrosa and Spies, Lorenzo’s grip on 1st and 2nd place in each race has been broken, Rossi was a distant 4th and Casey Stoner ate asphalt by crashing out. Are we seeing the birth of a world champion in Ben Spies?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer