Mugello Moto-GP on US TV -- No Rossi

[vfourmax]

Was reading a report that Yamaha wanted to put Spies on the Rossi's bike and went to Dorna to try to get an exception to the rookie rule due to the circumstances. The report was that there were teams throughout the garage complaining and not wanting this allowed so Dorna refused to grant the exception.

Meanwhile an exception to the rookie rule was granted to a 41 year old long time Yamaha test rider that only has 1 GP start in 2002 to ride Rossi's bike and there were no complaints in the garage for this exception.

Seems as if by the opposing teams reactions that they may have a little concern of what Ben could possibly do on the factory bike and do not want him riding it. Really though in the big picture I think Ben is probably best to stay with his current team throughout this year and gain the year of experience both with the bikes and the tracks.

[racerman_27410]

i agree,   I bet spies would be beating his Tech 3 horse all the way down the straight after coming back off the factory bike........i'm not sure he would have left his team anyway he a house are tight.....although personally i would like to see what Burgess could do for Ben on the factory bike.   

I think spies has the gift of being able to get to the end of the race with some tire left.... IE he is a smooth rider and can ride on worn tires (just like Rossi)

that talent is going to get him on the podium again this year.... i dont believe it was a fluke he got up there last week thats for sure.


Kookaloo!

[vfourmax]

WooHoo! Ben qualified fourth for this weekends Dutch TT GP race, only two tenths off of Stoner in third and only 4 tenths off Lorenzo's pole time!

Ben is steadily making himself to be known and watched in the GP paddock this year already.

I agree with the earlier post about one of Ben's assets is his smoothness plus his ability to still be fast on worn tires. Throughout his career many times he has posted his fastest laps in the closing stages of a race. Something else I am noticing is that it seems at this point and time that Ben and Lorenzo seem to like and respect each other as both have payed the other what seemed like genuine compliments and I am sure Yamaha is glad to see that.

Rossi and Lorenzo have a major dislike for each other to the point of needing to put up walls between the teams in the garage and do not work well together at all as far as helping each other overcome set up or issues with the bike. I have heard that Yamaha has told Rossi that they need to reduce his salary from 14 million to 9 million euros next year to cut cost BUT they are rumoured to be going to raise Lorenzos salary to 8 million euros. Rossi is a team player in a lot of respects but with his dislike for Lorenzo I cannot see him being happy to take a salary cut when that cut is just going to go into Lorenzos pocket. Not to mention that Ducati has offered Rossi 15 million euros to ride the red machine.

I still say that Lorenzo and Spies will be on the factory Yamahas next year. Rossi and it is rumoured that Ducati has already offered Hayden an extension on his contract to be on the Ducs. Stoner and ? on the Hondas. Right now Dovizio seems to be the most consistantly fast rider on the Honda.

Hopefully Ben will have a good race and has a shot to podium two weeks in a row!