Betfair Big Interview : Ben Spies

Other / Ralph Ellis / 25 June 2009 / 4 Comments

It's grease and leathers as the World Superbike championship comes to Britain, and Donington Park, this weekend. Betfair waited in the pits to talk to Ben Spies, the sensational young Yamaha rider known as "Elbowz" who has taken the sport by storm in his first season.

Hi Ben - so this event is obviously Britain's big race of the season, but where does it rank for you?

I've got a lot of fans here so it's important for me, but I've got to be honest with you - the way I approach a weekend like this, for me, is that in the end it doesn't make any difference to me where it is. At this point of the year it's simply a very important round of the Championship. I mean luckily I do like this track, and have been here before, but even if it was my home round it wouldn't mean any more to me. It's just an important weekend to try to turn the Championship back my way.

Of course you did race at Donington last season in the MotoGP as a late replacement for Loris Capirossi. What are your memories of that?

Mixed memories, it was a very strange weekend with the weather, all the rain, it made it very hard but at least I learned the line of the track for this year which will make it better. I'm enjoying seeing some sunshine this time, that's for sure!

So tell us about the circuit. What's good and bad about it from a rider's point of view?

I couldn't' tell you a bad point, I really like it a lot. I think it's technical and quite tricky so hopefully that will play into my hands a bit. I feel very confident. The track has got a lot of corner entries that are blind, and you really have to get the right feeling for the bike on the track when it happens, and that adds interest. The cambers of the corners are quite different too compared to the normal on most tracks, so it makes it harder and more technical and hopefully gives the better rider the edge.

Your first season in World Superbikes with Yamaha has gone well so far with a record number of pole positions. What do you need to do to turn that into a world title?

I think what we've done has been fast enough, but to be honest I've made a couple of mistakes and then we've had problems with the bike too. We should be right up there in the championship, if not leading the thing. I don't really think we should change anything now, we just want some better luck and no more mistakes.

It's a big gap to close because Noriyuki Haga is 48 points ahead of you. What's been his greatest strength so far?

It might sound obvious but it's just finishing the races, you know. Speed wise he's been fast, but never blindingly fast, but he's just been consistent with the bike and not making mistakes.

So that's what you've got to match in the second half of the season?

Nori is fast and hard too, but ultimately we've won a lot of races, we've won more than anybody, but we've also had some mechanical failures of the bike that have messed us up for the title. The good thing is it is still early enough in the year that we can come back but it will be hard, there are a lot off fast guys here.

You broke Doug Polen's record that was 18-years-old by getting your seventh pole. Was he a hero of yours?

Yeah, I liked him a lot. When I was learning about bikes I really looked up to Doug. To be able to pass him and what he did in the world superbikes, especially in my first year, is something I'm pretty proud of.

Tell us how you got into riding motorbikes in the first place?

It started when I was a kid - my Mum's ex boyfriend got a motor cycle, and I always wanted to ride it, and finally he got me on one and that was pretty much it. It all started from there.

And where did that "Elbowz" style come from?

I couldn't answer that, it's just kind of evolved, you know. I didn't plan on doing it, it's just something that came naturally.

It's unorthodox so have you ever tried to change it? Somebody must have tried to make you at some time!

If they did I wouldn't take any notice. I just think whatever bike I ride I just try to ride it as fast as I can, and that usually the style comes out. I'm a little bit more physical with the bike because of how I ride with my elbows wider, and sometimes it is not a good thing because you expend more energy, but you know that's the only way I can go about it

Finally we hear fishing is your hobby. How does something so quiet and peaceful sit alongside racing bikes - or do you try to catch sharks!

I love fishing, but then I also go hunting a whole lot so those type of sports have always been a big thing for me. I've been into hunting since I've been a kid, it's a little bit more slow pace, but it's something I enjoy. You know you go elk hunting out on the mountain, and you get some alone time. It's real peaceful.

Thanks for your time, good luck, and we've a free £50 bet for a favourite charity.

That's great - it can go for a charity my grandpa started back home in the States called Love for Kids. I'll back Valentino Rossi to win the Netherlands Moto GP at [2.6].

Comments (4)

1. Todd Van Galen | 03 July 2009

   Ben,

   Your Grandpa would be very proud of you!

   Love For Kids supports you and appreciates your support. We expect you to bring the championship trophey to All Kid's Count next year....just like you did your first AMA.

   Todd Van Galen
   President - Love For Kids

2. Beverly Nalley | 04 July 2009

   Ben - you are awesome as a rider and as a person to keep the comittment Bill made to Love for Kids going after 34 years. Our love and prayers are with you at every race!

   Beverly Nalley & family
   Executive Director, Emeritus
   Love for Kids, Inc.

3. imamfumi | 05 July 2009

   You aRe My FaVoRiTe RideR beN ...
   i HoPe YoU WouLd be abLe To be THe WoRLd SBK cHaMpioNs THis YeaR. iT WiLL be SupRiSed tHe WoRLd beCauSe YoU aRe RooKie iN THiS YeaR.
   YoU CaN do iT THe eLboWz

4. william hall | 06 July 2009

   from the stuff i've read, looks like you are enjoying traveling and interacting with different cultures. glad to see you are making an effort to interact with different cultures and not just to be there, race, get paid, get fame and leave. was great to see you in my home continent africa. but i'll need a win next time. cheers