Tech 3 Yamaha boss denies 2010 deal for Ben Spies

Ben Spies’ Yamaha World Superbike deal does not include any assurances that the American is guaranteed a place in the Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP squad in 2010.

Triple American superbike champion Spies will partner British rider Tom Sykes in Yamaha’s factory WSB squad next year after he failed to find a ride in MotoGP.

But Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal has categorically denied there is any clause that gives Spies the option to move to his French-based squad in 2010 as a replacement for Texan Colin Edwards.

It has been rumoured that Spies wants to move to MotoGP with Yamaha, with Tech 3 his best option in the squad that currently runs double World Superbike champions Edwards and British rider James Toseland.

Poncharal said: “I have known Ben’s manager Doug Gonda for a long time and I rate Ben as a very good rider for the future as everybody does. But nothing has been decided about his MotoGP future. I have heard some talk about that, but never ever has the Yamaha factory thought about that.

“I heard one of the ideas of Ben was to come to MotoGP in the future, but nothing is in place for him to join us at this stage.”

Yamaha management recently threatened Edwards with a swap deal with Spies unless his results significantly improved.