Wayne Gardner backs Ben Spies to star in 2011

Former world champion Wayne Gardner has backed Ben Spies to emerge as a major threat to Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa’s domination of MotoGP in 2011.

The top quartet, who are frequently referred to as aliens for their domination of the premier class, have won all but three of the races in the 800cc era since 2007.

But it looks like the four will come under a new attack this year with American Spies, Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso and rising Italian star Marco Simoncelli all trying to break into the elite group at the front.

Spies is now on a factory Yamaha YZR-M1 alongside reigning world champion Lorenzo while Dovizioso has improved his pace during winter testing. And Simoncelli has impressed during the off-season having secured full factory support from Honda for 2011 in Fausto Gresini’s San Carlo-supported satellite squad.

But Australian Gardner, who won the 1987 500cc world title, has tipped Spies as the most likely to consistently challenge the top four.

Speaking exclusively to MCN, Gardner said: “I really like Spies. He’s a smart guy and he knows where the speed is and he knows about what is underneath him. He doesn’t crash that much and that will be important. He’ll probably be the first of that second group to do well. Dovizioso has been doing well for a while but I think he’s hit a brick wall and struggling to make the next step that puts him on a par with Dani and Casey. I think Simoncelli will be in front of Dovi. Simoncelli is one to watch with interest. He only stuck his head up at the end of last year but I don’t see the consistency there with him, and that is what Spies has.”

See more of Gardner’s thoughts in a special 16-page preview on the 2011 season in the March 16 issue of MCN.