Ben Spies extends his contract with Yamaha Factory Racing team – MotoGP news
Yamaha Factory Racing rider Ben Spies has received a one-year extension to his present contract with the Yamaha Motor Company.
Now he will race with the Yamaha Factory team in 2012 with a 1000cc machine. With a third place finish at the Catalan GP, it was his first podium finish with Yamaha Factory and for the 2011 season after five rounds.
Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director, Lin Jarvis said, “We are obviously delighted to announce the continuation of our partnership with Ben for the 2012 season and we hope that he will remain at Yamaha for many years to come. Ben has shown his ability to
successfully compete at the highest level; firstly by becoming Yamaha’s first World Superbike champion in 2009 and then attaining the status of Best Rookie in 2010 with the Tech3 Yamaha Team.”
Jarvis also said that his career has just started at the Yamaha Factory team and the company has full confidence in the American rider that he will achieve the peak of his premier class career.
The Yamaha MD says that the decision has been taken in time to save the season ahead and concentrate in the development of the present M1 for scoring victories. In addition, he said the team will concentrate on the 2012 season and the development of the
2012 MotoGP prototype of 1000cc.
The American rider, Spies commented on his extension with Yamaha and said, “I am very happy to say that I will remain a part of the Yamaha family and that I will continue in the MotoGP series for 2012. This is a privileged time of my career riding for the
most successful team in recent years at the very highest racing level.”
He also praised the support of the company through World Superbike Championship and making his shift possible to premier class.
His first move was to the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team in the 2010 season and after Valentino Rossi’s move, Spies was called in to the Yamaha Factory team due to his superb performance.
Let’s see how he fares at the upcoming British Grand Prix set to take place this weekend.
Tags: