It has been confirmed by the factory Yamaha team that 2009 World Superbike Champion Ben Spies will be joining the Champion outfit from next season onwards. The news comes following Valentino Rossi’s switch to Ducati earlier this month.
Ahead of this weekend’s Indianapolis Grand Prix, with Rossi replacing fellow title winner Casey Stoner at Ducati while the Australian switches to Honda, the MotoGP shuffling of seats continues as American Spies makes his way from the Tech 3 Yamaha satellite squad.
“My first year in MotoGP has been a great learning curve and for that I have to thank Herve Poncharal, all the team at Tech 3 and especially my American mechanics who have stuck by me throughout this great journey so far,” said Spies, who finished fourth at the last race in the Czech Republic.
“Having previously been to only four of the ten tracks to date, I have to be pleased with where I am and with having achieved my first podium so soon.
"I'm especially pleased that Yamaha have recognized the potential in me and given me the opportunity to step up to the factory team so early in my Grand Prix career.
“I believe that by working closely with the Yamaha staff and my mechanics we will be able to help develop the M1 and make the next step of challenging for regular podiums, followed by future championships.”
Lin Jarvis also has much confidence in Spies’ abilities.
“We believe that Ben will be a future title contender and that he will be a good fit with our team,” commented the Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing. “His mission next year will be to continue learning, consistently challenge for podium places and try to win some races.”
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