Ben Spies backs new Ducati strategy

Ben Spies believes Ducati’s new strategy to give full factory machinery to its entire MotoGP line-up in 2013 will be crucial in helping the Italian manufacturer close the gap to Honda and Yamaha.

In a bid to develop the Desmosedici at a much faster rate and expand the amount of rider feedback, Spies, Andrea Iannone, Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso will have identical machinery at their disposal when the new 2013 campaign kicks off in Qatar on April 7.

Spies, who will ride for the Ignite Pramac Ducati squad, will make his Ducati debut in Sepang next week having not ridden since he suffered a serious shoulder injury when crashing out of last October’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

And he believes the different styles and experience Ducati has in its four-pronged attack in 2013 will help the Bologna factory bounce back from a bitterly disappointing two-year stint with Valentino Rossi.

Spies told MCN: “Andrea (Dovizioso) is a great rider with a lot of experience on the Honda and Yamaha.

“Nicky has been with Ducati a long time and he understands the bike more than anybody else.

“And Andrea (Iannone) is a very big talent and he knows very little about the tyres and the bike and that could be beneficial to get some good feedback.

“With Ducati giving four equal bikes then all the feedback can be looked at and judged based on the same machinery and not two different bikes for the factory and satellite team.

“Now they have four and not just two developing the bike and that is really important and that shows how much Ducati wants to develop the bike, get the right information and get back to the front.”

For a full exclusive interview with 2009 World Superbike champion Spies, see this week’s issue of Motor Cycle News.