Spies reviews Indy test and looks forward to U.S. wildcards

Looking ahead to the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix later this month and the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix in September, both of which will see him appear as a wildcard rider for Rizla Suzuki, recent MotoGP debutant Ben Spies was in a positive frame of mind at this week´s IMS test.

Commenting on what it means to have a second MotoGP race on American soil with the addition of Indy to the calendar Spies said, `I think it´s good for the city and this part of the U.S. This region has quite a large number of motorcycle sales. Having a lot of fans and a lot of motorcycle people around here helps. I think the track is going to be a work in progress, and it´s only going to get better. Everybody here is really positive on doing that.´

`For the U.S., I think it´s a great area, and there´s no better place to go when it comes down to racing. I think it´s going to be good come September, when a lot of people show up.´

On his opportunities to compete in MotoGP this year Spies commented, `We ended up going to Donington and having our first race there, and I think it was better to do that because now I´ve been on the track with those guys. I´ve done the whole weekend, I´ve done the start, I´ve done everything, and I won´t be nervous at Laguna.´

`Now I can go to Laguna and then Indy, a track I know now, go for some good results and try to put the bike up front,´ continued the 23 year-old. `I think it was better to do that, and for the race two races that are in the States, I´m happy about it. We´ve got a lot of fans. Most of the crowd will be Americans, and they´ll be rooting for John (Hopkins), Nicky (Hayden), me and Colin (Edwards).´

The Suzuki rider concluded, `Laguna is a track that I know well, so I´m looking forward to it. My fellow AMA riders will be there, and they´ll have my back, so it´ll be fun. I´m looking forward to it.´