Brno MotoGP: Ben Spies to test 2011 Yamaha

Ben Spies will be given chance to test an early 2011 factory Yamaha prototype after this weekend’s Brno MotoGP race.

The Texan will be handed an opportunity to complete laps on the new bike during Monday’s test session in the Czech Republic.

Yamaha has flown only one new YZR-M1 from Japan to Europe and the majority of the testing duty will fall to world champion elect Jorge Lorenzo.

But with Valentino Rossi banned from evaluating the bike because of his big money switch to rivals Ducati, Yamaha will take opportunity to let Spies complete a few laps for his early impressions of next year’s YZR-M1 contender.

A Yamaha source said: “Ben won’t have anything new to test for Tech 3 at all, so he will get the chance to ride something else. It’s easy way for Yamaha to get some early input from him for next year.”

The 26-year-old reigning World Superbike champion told MCN: “Whatever they tell me to ride, I’ll ride and obviously there have been rumours that there will be something in Brno.

“I might take a few laps on something but I don’t know. I haven’t been told 100 per cent.”

Monday’s test though will largely depend on the weather, with forecasts currently predicting showers Rossi’s move to Ducati, exclusively revealed by MCN at the end of June, will be confirmed in Brno this weekend.

With Ducati announcing that nine-times world champion Rossi will partner Nicky Hayden next season, Yamaha will confirm that Spies will be promoted from the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad into its factory team next to Spaniard Lorenzo.