Ben Spies

Ben Spies
Spies at the 2010 Qatar Grand Prix
Born (1984-07-11) July 11, 1984 (age 40)
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Motorcycle racing career statistics
MotoGP World Championship
Active years2008–2013
ManufacturersSuzuki (2008)
Yamaha (2009–2012)
Ducati (2013)
Championships0
2013 championship position21st (9 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
55 1 6 1 1 478
Superbike World Championship
Active years2009
ManufacturersYamaha
Championships1 (2009)
2009 championship position1st (462 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
28 14 17 11 6 462

Ben Spies (/ˈbɛn ˈspiːz/; born July 11, 1984), is an American team principal for a MotoAmerica Supersport (600cc) professional motorcycle road racing team who previously was a racer himself. He was sometimes nicknamed "Elbows" due to his riding style, in which his elbows protruded outward.[1] Spies won the AMA Superbike Championship for Yoshimura Suzuki in 2006, and successfully defended it in 2007 and 2008.

Blue and white streamlined motorcycle with racing tires is an exhibition setting
Spies' 2009 World Championship Yamaha R1 Superbike

For 2009 he raced in the Superbike World Championship series for the Yamaha Italia team; winning the championship in his rookie year by six points over rival Noriyuki Haga. He started racing on Yamaha YSR50cc bikes with the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association in Texas when he was 8 years old. On October 26, 2013, Spies announced his retirement from motorcycle racing after two debilitating crashes left him with permanent shoulder injuries.[2] On October 17, 2023, Graham Rahal, owner of Ducati Indianapolis and Ducati Cleveland dealerships, named Spies team principal for the dealership-owned Supersport (600cc sportbike) team Rahal Ducati Moto.[3]

  1. ^ "Ben Spies Interview". SuperbikePlanet.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  2. ^ "Ben Spies retires from racing". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. October 26, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  3. ^ Rahal Ducati Indianapolis. "Graham And Bobby Rahal Add Two-Wheel Racing to Their Portfolios With The Creation Of Rahal Ducati Moto". Ducati Indianapolis. Dealer Spike. Retrieved October 18, 2023.