Aragon MotoGP: Rain gives Ben Spies confidence boost

Ben Spies is confident that come rain or shine he will be able to extend his brilliant recent run in the 2010 MotoGP world championship in Spain this weekend.

The Texan has finished top rookie and top non-factory rider in the last four races and he ended Friday’s practice sessions at the new Motorland Aragon track with the tenth fastest time overall.

The reigning World Superbike champion was tenth in dry conditions this morning but his confidence was given a major boost in wet conditions in the second 45-minute session.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider set a best time of 2.03.874 to finish eighth fastest in the rain.

And the 26-year-old said: “I was pleased with progress in the dry this morning and I’m really happy with how it went in the rain. I just stayed out to get a feeling for the bike in the wet conditions.

“In Germany earlier in the season I did about three laps in the wet and that’s all my MotoGP experience in the wet since Indianapolis in 2008. It was a bit of an eye opener and it took me a while to get up to speed.

“But once I got comfortable I felt good. And if we do have to ride in the rain now I’m confident that we’re not miles off.

“The limits are super high in the rain and my lap times were coming down all session, so now I’ve got my head wrapped around what this bike and tyres can do in the wet, hopefully we can step up again next time.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Colin Edwards was ninth fastest overall today having finished 11th quickest in this afternoon’s wet session.