Ben Spies

....has announced his retirement, no surprise maybe but a sad end to a promising career.




Ben Spies enough said . A decision was in the air for a long time so that we talked about as a possibility last Thursday, but the final confirmation came only in the last hour. conditions of the two injured shoulders are not yet good at the time and the Texan can not ensure to ride a MotoGP bike at 100% in the next season . Injuries have weighed heavily on his physique, so much so that this year has been a failure protagonist throughout the season.

Spies found in agreement with Ducati for a solution to terminate the contract that bound him to the Borgo Panigale also for next year . Now the agreement is signed and Paolo Ciabatti has confirmed that the official release is a matter of hours

At this point, the plans for the Ducati change, because the presence of Ben was the only reason to deploy next year with four bikes specifications Factory. In 2014 only Dovizioso, Crutchlow and Iannone will have official materials, while the second bike will be fielded by Pramac in Open . In essence, the Desmosedici this year with 24 liters of fuel available and the software provided by the organizer of the championship.

Luckily arrived Gigi Dall'Igna, at least we can hope for a strong leadership for 2014 because 2013 was a complete failure. We trust that Claudio Domenicali, a racing man himself realizes it.



Read more: MotoGP, Spies si ritira, prima scelta Laverty

 

The ink is barely dry on the press release announcing Ben Spies' retirement from racing, but speculation about the future occupant of his seat at Pramac Ducati has started.

But before specific names can be diced, sliced and pureed, a key question must be answered: Will Spies' successor ride a factory or customer bike?

Spies rode a factory GP13 during his limited action this season. But European media outlets reported this week that Aprilia World Superbike standout Eugene Laverty turned down Spies' seat for 2014 because it would only be a customer or "Open" machine, not a full works effort. All reports indicate Ducati will field only three factory bikes next season, for works team riders Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow and returning Pramac rider Andrea "Crazy Joe" Iannone.

Negotiations between sponsor Marlboro and Ducati Corse are known to be in a holding pattern. Their current contract ends this year. Marlboro wants better results before they begin negotiating the next contract, Ducati needs more funding to improve results, is the presumed angry circle.

Laverty still could be a candidate if his negotiations with Aprilia and Suzuki in WSBK disintegrate. Laverty also probably will need to reduce his reported annual salary demands of 500,000 euros to fit within Ducati's budget. The Boys from Bologna reportedly offered less than half that sum in its first proposal to Laverty.

Two other names mentioned as candidates for Spies' ride are Yonny Hernandez and Danilo Petrucci. Hernandez has served as an injury replacement for Spies at Pramac for most of the second half of the season, while Ducati already has made contact with MotoGP Claiming Rules Team veteran Petrucci because it offered him a role as a test rider last year.

Soup :: The Empty Seat :: 10-26-2013

 

"I hope that his injuries don't hinder him for the rest of his life," Schwantz said, "and that he is able to go on and race bicycles or race dirt bikes and enjoy it. I hope he can get back to a place where riding motorcycles is fun again. I hope he can find that place that draws us all in--that riding motorbikes is just fun."

more: Soup :: Spies: Kevin On When The Revvin' Stops :: 10-30-2013