Ben Spies has made a shock announcement via email to American website SuperbikePlanet.
com that he will be leaving Yamaha’s factory MotoGP team at the end of the season, and suprisingly the announcement comes ahead of his home race at Laguna Seca and before an official announcement by Yamaha.
“I have chosen to leave Yamaha after this season for a litany of reasons.
I will explain more when I feel it is appropriate.
I’m discussing my situation with my sponsors and they are behind me.
There are a few people at Yamaha who I hate to leave.
And they know who they are.
I wish Yamaha the best.
I won’t make any further comments until the offical announcement comes out.
” and then via Twitter added “I’m extremely happy to push for the rest of the season to my fans and myself next year starts a new chapter.
And yes I’m pumped!”Just yesterday Spies always via Twitter had set some tongues wagging when he tweeted three different messages: “U can say next year will be a bit diff I’d say.
excited at all prospects stay tuned” and then added “I thought I’d be dramatic like all the sites and reporters are haha maybe nothing changes except to be back were we are meant to be!” and “Big things are happening from the horses mouth! not the Internet sites haha.
Gonna be fun that’s for sure Ill keep ya updated Spies has been in the hot seat at Yamaha due to his lack of performance over the first part of 2012 season, despite reassuring comments by his team manager Massimo Meregalli, that the American has had only string of very bad luck and it wasn’t due to his riding abilities and that everyone at Yamaha understood the situation and weren’t putting any pressure on him.
Where Spies will be heading is still a complete mystery, as he hasn’t been tied to any other team during this year’s silly season, and his factory seat has been hotly contested between Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso, but Valentino Rossi may be more than heavily involved in the Texas Terror leaving the team as yesterday’s rumor, had the former World Champion returning to Yamaha and bringing them a mega sponsor (take your choice from the three bandied around, Coca Cola, Marlboro and Monster Energy).
We won’t have to wait long to find out who will be Yamaha’s second rider next season because Thurdays’ pre-event press conference at Laguna Seca will be standing room only and everyone will find out the name of the rider and where Spies is going.