Spies confirmed for Donington debut

AMA Superbike star Ben Spies has been confirmed as Rizla Suzuki´s replacement rider for next weekend´s bwin.com British Grand Prix, standing in for the injured Loris Capirossi. The 23 year-old thus brings forward his MotoGP debut, originally scheduled for the series´ two American visits to Laguna Seca and Indianapolis.

Spies has been long associated with Suzuki, for whom he rides in the stateside superbike series. He tested the 2007 GSV-R in the first post-season test at Valencia last year, and has expressed his desire to ride full time in MotoGP with Suzuki machinery.

On his unexpectedly early debut, Spies was understandably thrilled. `I was excited that my first GP was to be at Laguna Seca in the States, but I´m now more excited by this! I think this will be a good thing for me to start out at Donington; it is a track I don´t know so I have no pressure.

`I haven´t done any testing on the bike or with race and qualifying tyres so I am not really expected to do anything much, so I can just go out there and learn how everything works and enjoy the event. This will be good for when we get back to the wildcard races in Laguna and Indianapolis because I know those tracks and I´ll have some knowledge of the bike and be able to put my head down and go for it there,´ explained Spies, who also acknowledged that his opportunity does not come under ideal circumstances.

`This is great for me to get the chance, but it is in an unfortunate way that I am there because of the injury to Loris and I wish him all the best on a full recovery. I hope I can represent everybody really good and just want to go out there and have some fun´

The man whom he will substitute also fired out a warning to the rest of the MotoGP field as he commented on his expected return. Capirossi intends to return in two weeks time for the Dutch round of the World Championship.

`I´m really disappointed not to be racing at Donington as it is the team´s home Grand Prix and I know there will be a lot of fans there that have come to see us. I tried to get fit and although Dr Costa says the break is healing well, it won´t be good for me to race there as it won't be strong enough. So I hope to be back for Assen. I wish Ben all the best on his debut, but he shouldn´t get too comfortable on my bike because I want it back soon!´