World SBK
By Olaf Wolff
All About Bikes Sr. Staff-Writer
Tooele, Utah – Let’s not sugar coat this and bury the lead. Ben Spies (Yamaha), the Texas-Terror, faced the world on his home-turf – and crushed’em. Cool-hand dominated, doubling-up with two victories in the only SBK race on this continent, snatching back valuable points from the ailing Championship leader Haga in the process.
Beginning with a record-breaking seventh strait pole position and converting that to two hole-shots – that was all she wrote – boom, boom, Spies has left the building. Look, I didn’t want to jump the gun with this, so I’ve waited till now to go bold. If someone doesn’t promote the hell out of this guy, they’re missing a platinum-opportunity to bump this sport up several notches. Spies is a handmade glitter package. He’s got the look. He’s got crazy, super-natural, skills. He’s humble, or least fakes it well, having us nearly believe Fabrizio was actually challenging him in the second race, when what it really looked like was that he was toying with the Ducati rider. And let’s not overlook the charm in that Spies loves his mom.
Play it right, and Spies could do for Superbike racing what Tiger Woods has done for golf. Perceptively, perhaps even more, golf was already on the high up on the menu before Woods arrived. Yeah, you heard me. Dog me now if you must, but remember me later when it comes to pass. Perhaps the first inklings of superstardom to come was visible when Michael Jordan was seen chatting it up with Spies after the race. Greatness recognizes greatness.
Can Spies catch Haga in the point’s race and ultimately beat the world. I wouldn’t bet against it. Can he elevate the sport to a higher, more prominent place in the freakishly oval hearts of motorsport fans – damn straight. I’m an American and I’m thirsty for, and welcome in, as many heroes as possible to stop the bleeding, and return to us some legitimate swagger. Wouldn’t it only be fitting if it were a Texan? Of course that’s not to say I wouldn’t embrace and respect someone stepping up and trying to stop him. That’s racing after all.
Race 1
Here’s how the first race went. Spies got the hole-shot and had nearly a full second lead after only the first lap. The race was interrupted on lap 7 after a crash involving Australian Karl Muggeridge (Suzuki) who walked away with only bruises. The race was red-flagged and restarted with aggregate times now coming into play. But aggregate, schmregate, Spies stole the hole-shot back from Fabrizio within a few turns and never looked back.
Spain’s Carlos Checa (Honda) arrived a distant second place while Fabrizio (Ducati) filled in the third position on the podium. Noriyuki Haga, still battered and bruised after his crash Saturday, could only manage a ninth place finish, losing 18 points.
Race 2
The second race was pretty much a replay of the first, with the three-time AMA American Superbike champion Spies taking the lead at the first turn and never surrendering it. Working on his starts during the week paid off big-time for Spies. Fabrizio got off to a strong start and was second at the first corner, the Italian managed to keep Spies in his sights for over half the race, but you never got the feeling he was a real threat for the lead.
The Italian team is nothing if not a passionate and emotional team, at one point jumping up on the race wall in an attempt to inspire their rider to close the gap on Spies. But it wasn’t to be. Not today. Spies put his head down and shook off Fabrizio, who then recognized the beat down, settling in for a second place to go with his first race podium
Third place went to another Honda jockey, Jonathan Rea, who survived the battle between himself and Leon Haslam (Honda). Haslam crashed out in the final lap. Haga was only able to manage eighth place finish.
