Ben Spies steps up his game at Valencia MotoGP

November 7, 10:25 AMDC Motorcycle Travel ExaminerMark Poesch

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Qualifying results are in, and Ben Spies (#11) is in the top 10 on the grid: third on the third row, to be exact.  After qualifying ninth for the Valencia MotoGP, just 1.283 seconds behind the pole sitter, Casey Stoner (#27), Ben is poised to take on riders on his row, Randy de Puniet (#14) and Toni Elias (#24), and may even give the 5th and 6th riders on the grid, Colin Edwards (#5) and Nicky Hayden (#69), a run for their money.

MotoGP Yamaha rider Ben Spies of the U.S., foreground, takes a curve ahead of MotoGP Suzuki rider Cris Vermeulen of Australia during free practice for Sunday's Motorcycle Grand Prix, at the Cheste race track just outside of Valencia, Spain, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul White)

While this race isn’t significant in terms of points for Spies this season, if he holds his position or finishes higher in the top 10, it will vindicate Yamaha’s decision to move him from World Superbike in exchange for James Toseland, who moves from the MotoGP team to World Superbike next year.  It also puts the rest of the field on notice that Ben is here to compete in the 2010 MotoGP season.

Although in interviews yesterday Ben downplayed tomorrow’s race as just “three more days of testing” his position on the grid and his performance in tomorrow’s race are far more than a test: they establish a cadence for his performance that should show that Spies is ready to complete with the best-of-the-best on the MotoGP bikes.

Stay tuned to the Speed channel, “The MotoGP season finale from Valencia will air on SPEED on Sunday, November 8th at 6:00pm ET, immediately following coverage of the 250GP race.”

For more information:
- Ben Spies prepares to step into James Toseland's shoes - testing at Valencia MotoGP
- 2009 season MotoGP coverage
- Texan Ben Spies claims world superbike title
- Ben Spies - The winner and still champion
- Ben Spies to MotoGP in 2010
- MotoGP: Spies’ Valencia Livery Unveiled (speedtv.com)