I volunteered at Laguna with Scramp the year MOTOGP/WSB/AMA all ran that year on the same weekend!! Spies and the Hayden Bros and of course Rossi, Stoner and Texas Tornado made it an amazing experience to witness!!! Glad to see Spies doing well!! A true Living Legend!!
Before knowing about him, I once saw a clip of Ben backing his Suzuki into a corner on UA-cam. It was in slow-motion and was something that blew my mind. He was racing in AMA those days. I'm not American so I didn't get to watch AMA racing, but became an instant fan of his after that clip. When he won the WSBK title in 09 on the Yamaha I thought he probably has what it takes to win in MotoGP too! So I was ecstatic when he joined the MotoGP paddock. I knew it would take him a few years to win the title and was certain that he would succeed, but then the injuries started. When he retired I was hoping he would come back stronger after healing, but sadly that day never came. Ben is a no-nonsense guy and still one of the greatest we've seen race. I feel privileged to have seen him race.
Glad Ben is living a normal life. He was in the highest pressure battles. Maladin was a machine, but Ben broke him. Much respect to Matt, but Ben was our guy. Loved Bens rise and success in WSBK, should have stayed another year. When those opportunities come, you have to jump on them. It's disappointing that our US riders don't get the opportunity to bridge over to WSBK and MotoGP as much.
Still a class act. Loved watching Spies in ole AMA days put it to Mladin. Even more amazing he won WSBK in his rookie season. Wish he stayed in MotoGP longer.
I loved watching Ben. I loved watching during his superbike years. So hype bro. HAHA Let's not forget he did have a 1st place finish in MotoGP (I think it was Assen). I was happy to see another American win like that. I'm a big fan!!!
A class act! There has always been quality racers here. While I have never been a professional racer I do know what it is like to get injured and being forced to retire because of career ending injuries. And Ben Spies is right... it does take a beat to get your bearings. I also focused on family.... I was fortunate enough to meet Ben Spies, the Hayden brothers and others at a few races.
Ben had no business winning the WSB title on that Yamaha, a true testimony to his incredible talent. It just goes to show how serious the competition is at the world and GP level. I was hoping he would do more GP commentary after retirement, he was pretty good at it don't you think Greg?! Also, it's crazy to think that a person with his unique abilities to ride a precision engineered speed machine is now driving a bulldozer, you can take the boy out of Texas but you can't take the Texas out of the boy. A down to earth guy, it's what made him so likeable. I hope he and his friend find success in their contracting business, I suspect they will. Last thought, Ben doesn't look a day older from his GP days, glad to see he is doing well! 👍
I was truly bummed out that Ben went to GP. I saw the writing on the wall with Americans in GP. Ben could have been one of those legends in Superbikes like Foggy, Johnny Rey, Troy corser. Anthony Gobert in his prime.
I met Swantz in Millington TN when I worked at a Suzuki Dealer the only year they had the ama superbikes in Memphis Swantz took all comers at that race,against Polen Rainey Shobert Filice Stevens, & Adamo was doing dual duty on a Hailwood replica duck that day.
Seen mat at pikes peak raceway on the old 750s the fans were lining the fence watching him qualify the wind was probably 20 -25 mph on Saturday on Sunday Eric Bostrom won by inches
@@848evo4 I replayed three times trying to work it out, and it’s got me beat how the other viewers worked it out. They must’ve had more memory and information to know Ben was talking about M Mladin !??
@@darylclifford Mladin won seven AMA Superbike championships, interrupted one year by Nicky and three years, in a row, by his very own Yosh Suzuki teammate… Ben Spies. HUGE rivalry those three years, and they’re famously NOT close friends, though they respect each other.
@doodare oh I know lol, if I had the money I would've too. I'm not knocking the man , loved watching him and been a fan ever since. My sister went to school with him , though he was never there most the time.
One of my all-time favorites!!!! BEN SPIES!!!
I volunteered at Laguna with Scramp the year MOTOGP/WSB/AMA all ran that year on the same weekend!! Spies and the Hayden Bros and of course Rossi, Stoner and Texas Tornado made it an amazing experience to witness!!! Glad to see Spies doing well!! A true Living Legend!!
OMG I grew up hearing his name in the house every day but totally forgot about him until this video 🤷🏻♀️ so glad to hear he is doing well 🥂
I miss Ben so bad. I dream of him coming out of retirement to do some Moto America stint. Loved watching him ride
Before knowing about him, I once saw a clip of Ben backing his Suzuki into a corner on UA-cam. It was in slow-motion and was something that blew my mind. He was racing in AMA those days. I'm not American so I didn't get to watch AMA racing, but became an instant fan of his after that clip. When he won the WSBK title in 09 on the Yamaha I thought he probably has what it takes to win in MotoGP too! So I was ecstatic when he joined the MotoGP paddock. I knew it would take him a few years to win the title and was certain that he would succeed, but then the injuries started. When he retired I was hoping he would come back stronger after healing, but sadly that day never came. Ben is a no-nonsense guy and still one of the greatest we've seen race. I feel privileged to have seen him race.
Glad Ben is living a normal life. He was in the highest pressure battles. Maladin was a machine, but Ben broke him. Much respect to Matt, but Ben was our guy. Loved Bens rise and success in WSBK, should have stayed another year. When those opportunities come, you have to jump on them.
It's disappointing that our US riders don't get the opportunity to bridge over to WSBK and MotoGP as much.
Still a class act. Loved watching Spies in ole AMA days put it to Mladin. Even more amazing he won WSBK in his rookie season. Wish he stayed in MotoGP longer.
A class act, exactly, great guy, great personality, professional with a huge dry comedy side to him, and man… what a pilot.
I met Ben at VIR he's the coolest guy I've ever met , you Rock Ben
I loved watching Ben. I loved watching during his superbike years. So hype bro. HAHA Let's not forget he did have a 1st place finish in MotoGP (I think it was Assen). I was happy to see another American win like that.
I'm a big fan!!!
The 2009 WSB season was the best 👌🏽
It was awesome. What a year.
My all time favorite racer! 🏆
My Favorite WSBK season was 2009. Can't think of any other exciting season like was in 2009.
Just think if Ben did not run out of gas at several of the races it would not have been so close.
2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2021, all great seasons in my eyes
HUGE fan from Arkansas - thank you!
The Bikes have advanced so much from 06,07,08. Hell of rider Ben was!
OUR FAVE!!! much sadness when he retired. classy guy!
Ben! Best dude. So down to earth with normal squids like me! Thanks for being Rad Elbows!
Elbows! Such a great guy and rider to watch.
A class act! There has always been quality racers here.
While I have never been a professional racer I do know what it is like to get injured and being forced to retire because of career ending injuries. And Ben Spies is right... it does take a beat to get your bearings. I also focused on family....
I was fortunate enough to meet Ben Spies, the Hayden brothers and others at a few races.
Ben is one of the greatest!
I rocked your HJC RPS-10 for years, Ben! Need to find a new lid, actually
I miss AMA on Sundays on more of a local channel but flat out Ben was a badass I wonder what he thinks is worst model of a race bike
Ben was the greatest Superbike rider ever in my opinion!!
Ben had no business winning the WSB title on that Yamaha, a true testimony to his incredible talent. It just goes to show how serious the competition is at the world and GP level. I was hoping he would do more GP commentary after retirement, he was pretty good at it don't you think Greg?! Also, it's crazy to think that a person with his unique abilities to ride a precision engineered speed machine is now driving a bulldozer, you can take the boy out of Texas but you can't take the Texas out of the boy. A down to earth guy, it's what made him so likeable. I hope he and his friend find success in their contracting business, I suspect they will. Last thought, Ben doesn't look a day older from his GP days, glad to see he is doing well! 👍
I was truly bummed out that Ben went to GP. I saw the writing on the wall with Americans in GP. Ben could have been one of those legends in Superbikes like Foggy, Johnny Rey, Troy corser. Anthony Gobert in his prime.
Love this dude! I'm watching his first season in MotoGP right now. (Sorry for calling you "dude" as I know you Texans hate that).
My 2nd fav American motorbike 🏍 racers close behind Hayden #69
🇺🇸🏍🏁😃👍
Ben 100% TEXAN, you can hear his accent creepy in there, love it!!
Love you Greg!!!
Went there in 04 seen wsb noriuki haga & cris vermillion put on a battle from down be low. Had a great time at road atlanta this past year
2009's best racer, Ben Spies!
this man memorized the shape of the tracks he raced on, with styrofoam cups.
I met Swantz in Millington TN when I worked at a Suzuki Dealer the only year they had the ama superbikes in Memphis Swantz took all comers at that race,against Polen Rainey Shobert Filice Stevens, & Adamo was doing dual duty on a Hailwood replica duck that day.
Seen mat at pikes peak raceway on the old 750s the fans were lining the fence watching him qualify the wind was probably 20 -25 mph on Saturday on Sunday Eric Bostrom won by inches
Elbows never really got a fair shake in MotoGp for whatever reason. Love Ben.
He did not fit the mold of GP during that time. I wish he had a better BIKE in that last season. I wish he would have been able to go back to WSBK.
I want to hin come back to race again
Ben kept saying "him" and "he", talking about those memorable old race battles....
Who the heck is the "he".....????
Matt Mladin
@@848evo4 I replayed three times trying to work it out, and it’s got me beat how the other viewers worked it out. They must’ve had more memory and information to know Ben was talking about M Mladin !??
@@darylclifford we did, I was around that racing a lot back then, let's just say Ben doesn't care for Matt.
@@darylclifford Mladin won seven AMA Superbike championships, interrupted one year by Nicky and three years, in a row, by his very own Yosh Suzuki teammate… Ben Spies. HUGE rivalry those three years, and they’re famously NOT close friends, though they respect each other.
Speez! :D
Motogp spits EVERYONE out.
L-Boze. I believe him was Mladin wasn't it Ben?
We thought Swantz had elbow's😁
I'm related to ben He's my dad's cousin
greg white is so annoying. spies is still a cool cat though!
In my opinion yamaha did you real dirty.
And ducati bikes front end was really fucked up. Bro I was preying you wouldn't get on that ducati!
Typical east Texas companies to make lmao.
@doodare oh I know lol, if I had the money I would've too. I'm not knocking the man , loved watching him and been a fan ever since. My sister went to school with him , though he was never there most the time.