Monday, 01 February 2010
Malaysia will be the Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider’s first outing on a bike since the Valencia Test last November, and he is looking forward to adjusting to the new M1.
Ben Spies will return to action this week in the first official MotoGP Test of the year at Sepang, having not ridden a motorcycle for over two months.
With a second Test at the same circuit three weeks later the primary aim for Spies when he takes to the track on Thursday will be to find his initial feeling with the bike he will ride for the 2010 season.
“The good thing is that we go back again three weeks later, so I’m not in a rush at all to prove anything in the first test,” explained Spies. “Time-wise I’m not so concerned, I just want to put laps in and mess with the bike so I’m actually changing things. After the test at Valencia we didn’t change anything with the bike, so really I’ll just get a solid set-up and then we’ll go back there again in three weeks and that’s where I’ll really start trying to get down to my business, doing the best I can and getting up to speed. This first test is more just a shakedown. I’ve not ridden a motorcycle since the Valencia race, I haven’t ridden a motocross bike – I haven’t done anything. I’ve just been lying low, so I have to knock the dust off and start working with the new team and see how that goes.”
When asked what he could say about the M1 he will ride this season, Spies replied: “Honestly I don’t know! I’m going to ride it as hard as I can whatever I’m given. I would like to say that with the new engine rules and things like that, that I feel that a satellite team bike from any manufacturer is going to be closer than it has been in recent years, just because it’s a lot cheaper on a manufacturer to produce. But I really can’t tell you what I’m going to be on compared to what the factory guys will be on, or if it’s going to be the same identical bike. I have no clue right now but I’m just going to show up in Malaysia and start clicking off laps, and start that learning process.”
Spies’ pre-season preparations have followed his usual routine which involves lots of fitness work and plenty of cycling, and he has competed in races to maintain a competitive outlet.
“I’ve been doing a lot of physical preparation. My training during the season will be a little bit different because I’ll be doing one race in a day instead of two: I’ll have to consult with my trainer,” he said. “So far though I’ve just been putting in a lot of miles and getting my pace up, so that when we start the hard part of the season I’ll then be working on the high-end part of my fitness. I’ve been doing a lot of cycling and a little bit of racing, and I’ve had a pretty good off-season so far.”
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