Jerez MotoGP: Ben Spies confident of top six assault

Ben Spies is confident he can emulate his top six finish in the season’s opening race in Jerez tomorrow after he produced another impressive qualifying display. 

The Texan will start his second race for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team from the third row having posted a best time of 1.39.989 to finish in eighth position.

Spies was only 0.019s slower than team-mate Colin Edwards and just over 0.4s away from the front row.

The reigning World Superbike champion, who finished fifth in Qatar last month, said: “I’m happy and it’s good to be in the middle of the third row because I can try and get a good start and see what’s going on in the first couple of laps and try and get up there.

“I was happy with my race set-up than what I had for the quick lap on the soft tyres. I didn’t mess anything up real big but I just couldn’t get into that qualifying mode and put that fast lap in. From not knowing where I was going yesterday, I’m happy to be in the top ten and hopefully I can get closer to the front and see what is going on up there.”

What has made Spies’ performance even more impressive is the fact that prior to yesterday he had never ridden the Jerez circuit. Yet after only three hours Spies was just over 0.7s away from pole position.

He added: “This track is definitely different. There are some tricky parts of the track where I know what I need to do but I can’t quite do it every lap.

“When I get into the race mode I can get into that rhythm and slow myself down and get it, but when I try and put my head down I rush things and make some little mistakes. I’m just not super fluid with the track but in the broad scheme of things I’m really happy.”

Spies said he was optimistic of at least being able to fight for the top six in tomorrow’s 27-lap race and he added: “I’d like to think I can get in the battle for the top six but it’s going to be hard.

“Towards the end of the race is where I’ll be more comfortable because I’ll get in that rhythm and when the tyres go off I’ll feel a little better with the bike. I’ve got a pretty good feeling where I’m going on the track and I just need to change a few things for tomorrow and hopefully ride a little better.”