Suzuki sad but not sorry at Ben Spies departure

Ben Spies’ stunning start to his World Superbike career has posed one major question.

How must Suzuki be feeling at letting the American slip through its grasp, when all he wanted do was stay with the Japanese factory and move to MotoGP?

Spies was one of Suzuki’s prized assets, yet having invested precious time and dedicated vast sums of money into the development of the Texan, Yamaha now stands to reap the biggest benefit of Spies’ Suzuki apprenticeship.

Spies’ prime goal had always been to move to MotoGP with Suzuki, something he told MCN as far back as July 2007, when he confidently boasted he’d be in the factory MotoGP team for ’08.

That was despite persistent rumours that a fear of flying would scupper any deal to race overseas.

Spies’ reputation was enhanced further when he produced competent rather than spectacular appearances on the GSV-R in Donington, Laguna Seca and Indianapolis last season.

Yet Suzuki insisted on retaining Vermeulen, who has notched seven podiums in 55 races and veteran Capirossi, who has only won nine of his 171 premier class races.

So has Suzuki blown its chance of having Spies follow fellow American’s Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Junior to MotoGP glory?

Not according to current MotoGP boss Paul Denning.

He told MCN: “Suzuki’s position on losing Ben for 2009 was obvious disappointment, but it was very much with a view that the door is always open to discuss things in the future.

“We are happy with our riders at the moment, but if things change then Ben will be on the radar for us and most GP teams. I’m sure he will become more attractive to all Grand Prix teams as he completes a season of international competition on tracks that we visit.”