Darryl Mocek

Anyone watching the move by Ben Spies from AMA Pro Racing to World Superbike racing has noticed how serious he is about getting to MotoGP. There were rumors of him going to MotoGP last year, and he even rode the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R at the 2008 Laguna Seca round. However, he ended up in World Superbike...probably so he could prove himself on the world stage before going to the premiere class of motorcycle racing. What's been so impressive is that he's come out of the shoot with the Superpole (fastest lap times which means a start at the front) for two of two rounds so far, on a new bike (he's sporting a Yamaha R1 this year where he's been a part of the Suzuki team over the past several years in AMA) and at tracks which he's had no previous experience! Impressive. It is nice to see an American racer at the front of the pack again. Out of the four World Superbike races (two per round), he's won three of them. I believe the only reason he didn't win the first round was because he was pushed off track by Max Biaggi at the beginning of the race.

I believe if Spies does win the World Superbike title this year, especially if he continues to win every Superpole and every race (not likely), he's a shoe-in for MotoGP next year. I'm not sure if he'd end up in a factory team or satellite team, but at least he'd be there.