Showtime for Spies with Laguna Seca double duty

Ben Spies´ MotoGP debut may have come earlier than expected when he stood in for Loris Capirossi at Donington Park, but the American´s first Rizla Suzuki appearance on home soil is still seen as the real test of his ability to hang with the premier class riders.

The 23 year-old put in a respectable performance at the bwin.com British Grand Prix less than a month ago, and since then has picked up more track time with the GSV-R as one of the fastest riders of the recent Indianapolis test. Spies´ experience at Laguna Seca in the AMA Superbike series –his participation in which is the other ongoing concern this weekend- and increased familiarity with the bike at his disposal means that the home rider can expect to be competitive on Sunday afternoon on both fronts.

`I am really looking forward to this weekend. It will be awesome to ride the GP bike in front of all the American fans,´ says Spies in anticipation of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.

`I know it is going to be hard as these guys are pretty good and I have the added pressure of racing in the Superbike championship as well, but I will be going for it that´s for certain! I have got one race under my belt in MotoGP and I had a thorough test at Indianapolis that went really well, so now it is down to me to show what I can do!´

Spies has been victorious from pole position at Laguna Seca for the past two years in the AMA Superbike round, and eventually took the category title in both seasons. Rizla Suzuki, meanwhile, have finally hit form in 2008 with a Sachsenring podium for Chris Vermeulen –the rider who has come close to giving the team glory at the American track in his pair of MotoGP appearances stateside in 2006 and 2007.