Ben Spies Leaving Yamaha Factory Racing Team
Ben Spies will leave the Yamaha MotoGP squad at the end of the 2012 season. (Yamaha Photo)
MONTEREY, Calif. — American MotoGP rider Ben Spies has announced to the world via Twitter that he will be leaving the Yamaha Factory Racing team at the end of the season.
Spies ranks a disappointing 10th in the standings heading into this weekend’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, while his teammate Jorge Lorenzo has won has won five of nine races and leads the championship standings.
The Texas native confirmed to Superbikeplanet.com by email that he would be leaving Yamaha at the end of the year.
“I will explain more when I feel it is appropriate,” Spies said. “I’m discussing my situation with my sponsors and they are behind me. There are a few people at Yamaha who I hate to leave. And they know who they are. I wish Yamaha the best. I won’t make any further comments until the official announcement comes out.”
In a later tweet Spies, who has one career MotoGP victory, showed enthusiasm toward his pending change.
“I’m extremely happy to push for the rest of the season to my fans and myself next year starts a new chapter. And yes I’m pumped.”
In other MotoGP news, Spanish rider Toni Elias will fill in for Pramac Racing Team rider Héctor Barberá, who broke his left fibula and tibia in a recent crash while testing.
Retrieved July 24, 2012; from http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/motorcycle-racing/motogp/ben-spies-departing-yamaha/