SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted January 26, 2009 09:23 AM
Spies: We've got what it takes to win
Triple AMA champion Ben Spies completed a close rookie one-two by finishing less than 0.2sec behind BSB champion Shane Byrne after three days of official testing at Portimao.
“For sure it was good to be here and get more time on the bike and work with the team, the rain was a bit dodgy so it's been frustrating to get some decent track time,” admitted the American, who made three MotoGP appearances for Rizla Suzuki last season.
“In the first of the new format Superpole test sessions on the last day we were quickest, unfortunately for the second session it rained and I didn't want to do anything silly so didn't push too hard.
“We worked on some settings over the test and got down to some pretty quick times. We got to try a few things with the bike and made a big step up, taking half a second a lap off, but the weather didn't allow us to get more,” he added.
Whilst new Sterilgarda Ducati rider Byrne is at least familiar with his 1098 machinery, Spies has switched brands, teams and championships for 2009 - with another notable unknown being Yamaha's all-new 'uneven firing' R1 motorcycle.
Since the previous South African test, the factory-backed Yamaha Italia squad had boosted power output from the R1, helping it claim the highest top speed at the Portimao test.
And, speaking at the conclusion of his third WSBK test, Spies felt confident enough to declare 'we've got what it takes to win'.
http://www.crash.net/World+Superbikes/News/142285/1/spies_weve_got_what_it_takes_to_win.html
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
  
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted January 26, 2009 10:23 AM
I thought Spies was going to GP?
So, he's going to WSBK?
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted January 26, 2009 10:37 AM
Here is the Yamaha Racing press release:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/events/dynamicevent/2/918/ben_spies_signs_with_yamaha_world_superbike_for_2009.aspx
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted January 26, 2009 10:41 AM
Yamaha will be the team to watch in major racing leagues for '09. They got Josh Hayes onboard with them as well.
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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07zx14blk
Expert Class
ZX6R, ZX9R,ZX12R,ZX14
Posts: 252
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posted January 27, 2009 08:24 AM
It will be an interesting year for racing…
I must admit I am a little sad about some of the decisions team green has made recently!
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ZX14 - Flies out,Full Yosh CF,PCIII,Dark Smoke, Thottlemister, Fender Eliminator, CF Hugger, BMC Race Fillter
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted January 27, 2009 10:53 AM
quote:
It will be an interesting year for racing…
I must admit I am a little sad about some of the decisions team green has made recently!
I think we all are!
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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