Ben Spies return to AMA Superbike, Marc Marquez to Ducati & what forced his MotoGP retirement

[@gypsytalespodcast9369]

We loved this episode with Ben Spies... Would be interested to know you favourite part of this podcast? 🫡

[@Showmetheevidence-]

Personally love some of the views on riding the SBK/MotoGP bikes & behind the scenes stuff about racing at the top level… first hand stuff vs media or propaganda.

[@lovelessissimo]

The behind the scenes stuff is interesting. How bikes are developed. What separates a winning team from a middling team.

[@SosopChabot]

Ben won 3 championship against the most winning rider of all time (Matt Mladin) in AMA on a Suzuki with Dunlop tires. THEN he goes to World Superbike, rides a Yamaha with Pirelli tires on tracks his ever been on except for a handful and wins the World Championship FIRST F*****G TRY. This guy was unreal to watch…

[@codeboy_henry]

To this day I tell everyone the two sickest things I have ever seen in motor sport are #1 Spies in 09 and #2 Rossi in 08.

[@vicpnut1]

Back around 2007 we had dish network satellite and occasionally they had moto racing televised on weekends . I didnt know the schedule and wasnt smart enough to look itmup at the time but id scan the onscreen guide every weekend and occasionally be lucky enough to come across races… recently i was trying to get to remember the suzuki riders i loved ..and not knowing/remembering the league / bike sizes etc etc for the life of me i couldnt remember who mladin was seemingly always racing against for the win(s) …so it was cofusing cause (at times) it was like the two suzuki riders i wanted to see werent racing anymore …sometimes i was watxhing gp, sometimes superbike ,ama etc etc and did t know the differences. Just knew i loved it all lol…as of like a week ago ,after watching tons of youtube moto racing from all circuits this past year or so ben popped up and y tortured mind was finally relaxed lol he was like the “new kid” pushing mladin ( in that moment anyways ) and the racing was the msot exciting stuff i ever scene …he was so good (especially to my unexperienced mind) that i being an instant mladin fan i was like almost forced to root for ben too lol …when i left that area and moved elswhere and back to cable or a different satelite service i couldnt find races on weekends anymore…and for a very ling time forgot about moto racing ,till finding it ALL on youtube ..what great time to be a moto fan 😬…. Now my problem is keeping all the different leagues ,categories ,cc levels and the riders for each remembered lol …for this later middle aged dude ,its a great problem to have ….and it all started watching this guy race …hes an awesome interview ,racer (was at least ),embassador,and now i imagine team member behind the scenes .

[@MrGixxer1Thousand]

@@codeboy_henry Agreed, but I'd add the entire 2002 World Superbike Season to that list. The battles between Bayliss and Edwards were epic, with Edwards ultimately taking the win on the RC51. Still have my mighty RC51 in the garage!

[@codeboy_henry]

@@MrGixxer1Thousand no doubt, I started watching in 05, so I didn't see The Tornados 2002 campaign personally.

[@pancon5]

That four-year run was the stuff of MotoGP legend!

[@n.elliott9122]

Outstanding interview with Spies. Its really enjoyable to hear his level headed wise responses and be able to tell that its from his heart. No BS in his responses. He keeps it 100.

[@xipingpooh5783]

Ben’s battles with Matt are legendary!! Great interview!

[@USAracing]

When those 2 were on Suzuki I recorded every race every year

[@TazawaTanks]

550 hours of flight time in one year is insane!!! In my previous job, I flew an average of about 100 flights per year, for 100,000 flown miles. With an average of 3 hours per flight (most were US domestic), that is still only 300 hours of flight time. 550 is almost double that! Another fun fact: I have a giant tattoo that cover half of my back that is me doing a wheelie on my old race bike. Because I couldn’t get the perfect photo of my own wheelie on track, the tattoo artist took a photo of Ben doing a wheelie and used it as a template. So…I kind of have a Ben Spies tattoo. 😂🏍️

[@jackjones7451]

Commercial airline pilots by law are only allowed to fly 1000 hours per year.

[@A.J.1656]

@@jackjones7451 That's what I was going to say. I average 980-1000 because I'm an airline pilot. Haha.

[@bonyclifton181]

Ben in WSBK was amazing. Amazing.

[@DecoD71]

And on that old big bang aswell. Crazy bike to ride

[@tommyboston1453]

Ahh takes me back to the glory days of ama!!

[@souxaseidel]

So cool to hear from Ben Spies again! For a long time, I wondered what had happened to him, I always loved his riding style!

[@jag2039]

American Style 🎉

[@TyDeJesus72]

The best racing I've ever seen. Come back!!!

[@niccolocatuzzi]

Wooow... super! Nice to see Ben back in the business 💪🏻

[@mikeybochenek1269]

This is why I love this podcast, a diverse perspective from guest’s that love racing from their own unique perspective. Spies is a legend!

[@markbevans8564]

Absolutely Ben is still the great legend in fact I still own a great Ben Spies tee shirt in my classic section that get worn on special events!

[@davidedwards7746]

I was at Laguna Seca and would up standing between to motorhomes and was standing next to Spies and Colin Edwards talking about their practice sessions. Two regular guys at work!

[@bigk13]

I've worked in the motorcycle industry since 2005 and Ben Spies has been the most influential person to me while cutting my teeth in the game. I have a Ben "Elbowz" Spies HJC piggy bank at my desk currently and still remember the good old days of watching you battle Mat at Mid-Ohio sitting at the top of the esses. What a great interview with an even better guy. I've never had a bigger smile while watching an interview and I'm having the biggest sense of nostalgia ever. I can't wait for Moto America to be back at Mid-Ohio in 2024. Hopefully I can meet Ben in real life 🤞.

[@heymanmotorsports49]

Incredible show. This pod really is my only inside view to moto. I’m a die hard tarmac race fan/ racer, Texan and also lived raced europe and states. Ben is a hero to many of us. The level of insight Ben provides here just like all the other greats you’ve hosted is mega. Thanks for all the hard work yall do on this show.

[@stravoxylo3678]

Great interview of a great rider! I've seen several Ben interviews and always take away how observant & intelligent he is. I get the impression that Ben is the type of guy that will be successful at anything he does. Look out Moto America the next championship winning team is here. Elbows!!!

[@Superfan_78]

What a great interview. Ben has always been my favourite rider. Such a humble guy with a great attitude. Great hearing all his stories and his take on things.

[@marcplatek3113]

Ben is awesome. Super dialed in guy. Let’s keep the road racing guys coming and MotAmerica riders

[@fredm4197]

Ben "Elbows" Spies was awesome to watch in AMA, racing Mat Madlin back in the good old days! along with his seasons aboard the YZF-R1 in WSBK.

[@BrianFraser23]

Elbows 😂😂😂

[@Zippy994]

Fantastic interview. Great to hear all the detail about the Mladin rivalry, career-ending injuries, etc. Spies was THE MAN coming off that WSB season. Was so disappointed when he retired. I've ruined both shoulders as well. Had both surgically repaired. Have the same weakness, atrophy and other issues also. No way he could ride at that level in that condition. But what a career...

[@delboy6384]

Super interesting point regarding Marco Simoncelli, never understood what was happening in that moment for him.

[@blrroman27]

met Ben Laguna 2019 the day before he did that Alphine Star Trackday. Really nice guy.

[@gizmoe1976]

I remember reading an interview in a magazine with Ben and he was more famous in his neighbourhood for being on a PlayStation game as his neighbours didn’t know who he was

[@gfree4244]

THIS is the interview I’ve been waiting for. Being able to understand what the riders are experiencing with the bikes and racing is what has made this so good for me to hear. Thanks guys

[@BrianFraser23]

I met Ben in Indianapolis, he seemed like a solid dude. Glad to see him back.

[@MillerMotoring]

I watch '09 season review at least once a year! Spies and Haga 👍👍

[@jeremyparsons9294]

I’ve been waiting for a real word from Ben for years. Hell yeah.

[@AssenGsxr]

I miss the racing being on tv on Sat an Sun I remember when Ben was in supersport class I was like that kid can ride enjoyed the him and Matt had some killer races back n forth plus he’s Texan 💪🏻

[@DRU1421]

ELBOWS was a true talent to watch, gave you adrenaline rush,great vid!👍🤙

[@AMomcilo1]

Great interview! This guy was one of the reasons I got an R1.

[@stillededge]

Hey Ben! Welcome back! Looking forward to watching you ride again! Best of luck to ya! 👍👍

[@davidbryant6779]

Thanks for representing Texas Ben … you make us look good

[@turnnburn9008]

Dang, Good to see an interview with Ben11, It was literally the best WSB season when he rolled in there. (for me as an American)

[@jamesbazel3384]

Awsome interview , I''m a big Ben Spies fan and used to love seeing him and Mat go head to head at Mid Ohio.

[@deanomachino9947]

Great interview. Keep the road race guys coming.

[@danlowery8749]

Have always been more of a moto fan rather than super zombie motogp, but this is the best Gypsy episode I’ve watched. Spies is a fantastic interview. Made me go back on watch some of his races on the tube. Well done sir

[@vicpnut1]

Ben Spies was the first rider i was in awe of back around 2007 when i first found televised races …always wondered what happened to him after i lost ability to watch races for a long time . This was an awesome interview,for me at least . 👏🏼👍🏼✌️

[@AJax7886]

This was a really fun conversation with The Ben. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@josemelio5608]

I always like him as a racer. Today I felt him as a friend, what a nice guy!!

[@AndrewSilva-l6y]

There's a picture by Andrew Wheeler of AutoMotoPhoto (RIP) of Ben coming out of the pits with the #1 plate in WSBK, starting out the '09 season I think. This picture was in one of the mags and it just so iconic to me. Ben was incredible, it's going to be so good to see him pass on his mentality to his team.

[@125kingo125]

Great rider and seems like a great bloke. Enjoyed that thankyou

[@alwoods1588]

I've always admired Ben Spies. Look forward to him getting involved in racing again, if not behind the bubble!

[@890r6]

I have the same issues when it comes to flying, rather be on my bike. Ben is also the original ELBOWZ.

[@ValiRossi]

I was at Cal Speedway in 2005 when Ben won the race. Mladin's bike broke. They had hot pits that day and the sound of the bikes coming down off the speedway section to the infield made this incredible thud. It was awesome. Great podcast.

[@M4Hamm]

Great chat with Spies. The interviewer is a great listener and add thoughtful insights. Seems very genuine. I don't listen to podcasts often, but this is great content!

[@gfree4244]

If this get back to Ben…I’m a captain for an airline and have cured a few people of anxiety when flying. Go up with a flight instructor. They will let you fly the entire flight for an hour. As you said it is a control issue. It might help you a lot

[@alexiskatsamakis670]

Great interview. Spies is very interesting person.Very well speaking.Mad respect!!

[@shawnkaufman651]

Really a great interview. I was always a Spies fan. Great to see him back in the sport. He's a very intelligent man. This was a very entertaining and informative interview.

[@say-it-as-it-is]

We need another Ben Spies in WSB and MotoGP. I will be supporting MotoAmerica this coming season.

[@casual9982]

What a great interviewer, and always been a Spies fan. New subscriber looking forward to more of these!

[@chrishipwell9116]

I mean, Ben goes from beating Mladin in the AMA on a GSXR to WSBK on a Yamaha- way different machine- and absolutely WAXING everything on the track. From Nitro Nori to Mad Max ~ that 2009 series was nuts! One of the best ever. On par with Colin on Castrol backed Honda. Hasn’t been the same sense. Thanks for the show. Ps- I still think Jarvis and Yamaha boned you. To many “fluke” accidents.

[@PrintShootRepeat]

Awesome interview and podcast 💨💨

[@pafsrh4744]

awesome ,always thought Ben Spies had the talent to be world motogp champ, but things are the way they are

[@wrxzboost]

shoutout to ben spies - awesome dude. i still have a cycling jersey from his team Elbowz Racing. probably the coolest team name ever!

[@a1chuy]

This was awesome.. those 3 hrs went pretty fast.

[@skuroa]

Best interview I've seen in a long time. Spies gave some great insights into the details of road racing. Great to hear that he'll be back in the sport, I'll get a ticket and a T-shirt for Moto America next year.

[@dtubbs9601]

This was awesome! Have been wanting to hear Ben's side for years. Glad it was on this platform.

[@thonyr.8315]

This guy has always been my favorite rider. Especially in WSBK.

[@MadAdventure919]

I still have Ben Spies autograph on my race Suzuki Gsxr 1000 k6 when I was racing back to 2007.

[@DDesigner123]

Spies was dominate on a superbike. Was the most talented rider from the USA.

[@jholmes82]

2nd to Hayden.

[@darwinLee81283]

I would say Nicky Hayden. But Ben was my Fav. Sucks he got injured

[@DavidStacey-tx7on]

​@@jholmes82gotta go with Ben. Won sbk in first and only year and was alot more competitve when he landed in motogp, he was shafted by Yamaha. They only gave him a short time to adjjst before shifting him sideways to bring the old yellow flog back

[@colinvannurden3090]

Rainey.

[@ducedevlstear2471]

Of that generation ? John Hopkins ! And then you have people from Steve Baker to Kevin Schwantz.

[@alanrodriguez7341]

Love the good news of Ben's race schedule for is new and exciting teams. Glad hes back. Al

[@rastamoto]

Pj Jacobsen and Kayla Yakkov are the riders. It’s a great pair of experienced and up and coming talent.

[@mrdoodle8748]

Spies comes across a a cool guy, introverts ROCK.

[@jamespaschall1240]

I've always loved Ben Spies it sucks he had to retire or chose to retire. I so badly wanted him to be more successful in MotoGP but alas, it just didn't happen. I loved hearing his insight on MotoGP today etc... Great episode.

[@noelstewart9321]

Disrespecting Americans really??? You forgot Kenny Roberts Sr came over and changed the game. First guy to be dragging knee and backing it in. Only person to have his son as a GP500 champion too who beat Vale. Freddie Spenser who won GP 500 and GP250 in the same year and was the youngest GP500 champion until Marc beat it. Americans changed the game and now all riders are implementing the training that Americans were doing back in the 70s. Don’t forget Wayne Rainey who won 3 in a row and was about to win his 4th before his tragic crash. Pay respect to great riders man.

[@bryanpleasants4919]

I miss watching Elbowz!!! I cheered him while in AMA, WSBK and MotoGP!! Almost fantastically, lol the way he raced brought me happiness. Especially being the only American in Europe doing big things at the time.

[@bearcatracing007]

4 Americans racing in WSBK the year he won, with Hayden and Edwards in MotoGP. So not sure why you think he was the only yank over there.

[@paulfleming4710]

He was one of the few that would go to a new track. He would set the fastest laps in 10 laps. I was at daytona when he blew the front tire. Scary

[@Cato-1119]

Front? He only had a rear pop at the stripe (last lap of test) during a early Dunlop test, the injury was a reason why he did not kick the crap outta Mat in 05 (long time to heal). Fronts rarely catastrophically failed.

[@TheTradesmanLU2001]

Ben , you’re an absolute virtuoso on a superbike. Please, please get out there on track again on a Sbk in the states . It would be sooo sick if you came in and won the title. I never missed a race when you rode for Suzuki and was thoroughly impressed when you jumped on the R1 and won the WSBK championship in your 1st go. Definitely one of my favorite riders .

[@dean.baldwin]

This was awesome and as much as I remember Ben racing, I've ordered the WSBK 2009 Season to reminisce over all times and Ben's winning season. Also great hearing about Ju Jitsu. My father was 10th Dan ju jitsu.and also bu jitsu. I've been training Filipino fighting arts for over 20 years but grew up with my Dad teaching me. I train with Bob Breen now who's the godfather of Filipino fighting arts in Europe and trained with Dan Inosanto who was of course Bruce Lee's best friend and student. It has a large element that's weapon based so stick and knife predominantly. Bu also dirty boxing with eye strikes, eye gauging and more funky stuff as its designed primarily for the street. It's all great though as you both said and is a great leveller. 😊

[@TiGGer1098]

Great pod, was a huge fan when he took on Mladin who’s replica helmet I still have from 07😹

[@binlagin]

Awesome interview. Love to hear the thinking of Ben.

[@ehtaylor]

Great interview, I really enjoyed the technical stuff. Maybe interview some crew chiefs with their insights into riders/bikes/tires?

[@BlkInc1]

Ben spies was my favorite American rider as well. 09 Yamaha R1 WSBK was amazing. Great riding style! I didn't own a bike prior to 07 and didn't have a way to watch prior AMA races against Matt Mladen. WSBK and Motogp were easier to find on TV.

[@JameseyB555]

Didn’t know much about Ben good watch loved watching him in wsbk battling with haga I think speaking for most brits we loved the fast American boys nicky hayden and Colin Edwards aswell good lads had a lot of time for the fans 👍

[@pathfindercod4638]

I miss the Ben Spies and Matt Mladin days! I traveled all over the southeast watching those 2 battle it out As well as Jamie Hacking and Aaron Yates. Hope to see ELBOWS on the track again!

[@TheEmpiredown]

Excellent interview, as always. Thank you for these!

[@markbanjodaniel]

Great episode. Loved the two-up story of you and Jack. I had a similar experience being two up with Ron Haslam on his fireblade years ago at Pembrey track. 130mph two up wheelies, had all my strength in my arms on the tank when he was braking to stop myself squishing him. One of the best experience of my life. Subbed bro 🤙🏻

[@thegibbonisreal]

Jase should interview himself.....he's so much more interesting than the guests.

[@joeyrodriguez3924]

Great interview

[@hifzullahozkaya]

Thank you for the great podcast. Invaluable explanation of difference between gp vs wsbk and also bike set up. Doing it and explaining it elaborately don’t go often hand in hand.

[@snikwadRR]

This was great. I didn't know all that stuff about Ben. It makes sense though

[@speedtrap420]

Americans took a break from beating the world for a few years to give others a chance, before Doohan, Stoner, Miller... We had Roberts, Spencer, Lawson, Rainey, Schwantz and Kocinski... Nice to hear Ben talk about his career and life. I am looking forward to seeing his face in the pits again.

[@Gamecock94]

Great podcast and insight. Spurs was one of my favorites in the day. Hate that injury took him out

[@dinkidink5912]

Great podcast guys, as a fellow introvert I definitely understand where Ben's coming from with a lot of what he was talking about here.

[@casparhassall8184]

What an awesome podcast and great insight. A lot of respect is due to this legend

[@maskimxul66]

Man. Please come back bro.

[@USAracing]

Ben and Casey have my same personality. I think thats why they are my favorite racers! Lets just race they hell with the theatrics and attention

[@bigmack10]

GREAT interview, really enjoyed it. Request: try to get Peter Hickman, John McGuiness, or Michael Dunlop on your show.. would be cool to hear from a TT rider.

[@jiboo6850]

at around 2:07:00 the discussion about max speed at Mugello, i hope you spotted your mistake? because when you reflect about it talking about you doing 290kmh at Phillip Island, it's not 170kmh difference but 70kmh. 360 - 290 = 70. but you keep saying 170

[@RC-qh9wj]

I respect Ben & enjoyed this. I can relate to the retirement discussion. As I've found my addiction to Monster Energy. As it elevates my heart rate. Similar to my previous pro mote development career. Helping me feel "normal"

[@jeffro5032]

@Jace.....dude , I hope you get more on-road guys on the show in the future. This was a great interview. It's nice hearing the perspective of an athlete in another discipline.

[@gypsytalespodcast9369]

More to come for sure mate!

[@Steamy_ray_vaughan]

Ben’s voice sounds like warm gravel he’s such a cool guy

[@johnny_eason_iii]

Way way epic!!!!👏👏👏👏🏍️🏁🏆💵🤙🏼💯🎉🎉🎉

[@cmufutube]

Very, very nice. It was like being privy to a conversation over beers with two friends, rather than a scheduled interview.. But there was no mention about Lin Jarvis and what went wrong at Yamaha?

[@barebonesmc]

Hi Id like to use a couple of clips from the interview, would that be ok? ill credit you of course, great work thanks

[@CaptainRon1913]

The Baggers are one of the most fun races to watch with MotoAmerica

[@Hannes7046]

To win the first year in WSBK, on circuits he never had been to before against riders like Biaggi etc takes a huge talent. If he would have come to MotoGP at a young age I'm sure he would have been a multiple MotoGP champion.

[@robertveronese4405]

Ben in my opinion was one if not the best superbike rider ever!!

[@THE-APEX]

One of the goats right here. Some of the best racing ever.

[@whiteknob7944]

He’s not mentioning the tires. Come on Ben. It’s the rubber. You put modern tires on a 500 the bike would snap itself in half.

[@Terraceview]

I thought he'd be going racing again, dang. Great to hear him speak.

[@raynic1173]

Ben, bro, I know what you're talking about, thanks for sharing your struggles with people and being in the limelight....