2009 WSBK leader Ben Spies has decided not to wait until 2011 to move to MotoGP, and will instead partner fellow Texan Colin Edwards at Tech3 Yamaha next season.
According to reports, Spies is now supposed to be committed to ride for Hervé Poncharal's France-based Tech3 team in 2010. This despite the fact that, September 4, Yamaha had announced that Spies had signed a new two-year contract extension for 2010 and 2011, inferring that he would remain in World Superbike in 2010 and move on to MotoGP in 2011.
Should Spies switch to Tech3 a year early, after presumably winning the 2009 World Superbike Championship, unloved Englishman James Toseland would be out of a ride, while the team has already made an offer to fellow American Colin Edwards, the other Tech3 rider, which the 2009 MotoGP podium finisher is expected to accept.
Two American riders on a French Team, with Yamaha dreaming of its golden years with Kenny Roberts Sr, Wayne Rainey and Eddy Lawson, and Kevin Schwantz reputed to be taking over management of the Suzuki MotoGP team – that series will certainly have a bit of an 80s feel to it in 2010.
photo:Yamaha
According to reports, Spies is now supposed to be committed to ride for Hervé Poncharal's France-based Tech3 team in 2010. This despite the fact that, September 4, Yamaha had announced that Spies had signed a new two-year contract extension for 2010 and 2011, inferring that he would remain in World Superbike in 2010 and move on to MotoGP in 2011.
Should Spies switch to Tech3 a year early, after presumably winning the 2009 World Superbike Championship, unloved Englishman James Toseland would be out of a ride, while the team has already made an offer to fellow American Colin Edwards, the other Tech3 rider, which the 2009 MotoGP podium finisher is expected to accept.
Two American riders on a French Team, with Yamaha dreaming of its golden years with Kenny Roberts Sr, Wayne Rainey and Eddy Lawson, and Kevin Schwantz reputed to be taking over management of the Suzuki MotoGP team – that series will certainly have a bit of an 80s feel to it in 2010.
photo:Yamaha