Seven times AMA Champion, the legendary Mat Mladin has mellowed out since he retired last season. In a multi-part series by On The Throttle TV called Mat Mladin, Inside with the Champ, the Aussie rider has nothing but praise his former rival and team mate Ben Spies.

Mladin who is known for his prickly character and no nonsense attitude, when asked what he thought about Ben Spies as a racer his answer was: “one of the best motorcycle racers in the world … maybe the best and if not the the best, not far behind the best, who we know is Rossi.”

We suggest that you head over to the excellent OTT website and watch part 13 of the series because you’ll get some insight on what makes Spies tick.

Source | asphaltandrubber.com

Continue reading: Mat Mladin praises former rival Ben Spies

Here’s part 3 of the One on One series with the two gods of motocycle racing, Ben Spies and Eddie Lawson. This time they discuss training, teams and support and the similarities from today and the past. There’s some great photo’s from Lawson’s past in the video, with an interesting discussion on the meanest and toughest race bikes that exsisted, the 500cc.

Continue reading: Ben Spies and Eddie Lawson Video - Part 3

Yamaha USA has released part two of their One on One series with Ben Spies and Eddie Lawson. In this video both champions come across much more relaxed, especially Spies. Listen to these guys talk about competitivenss, fans and rider obligations and winning.

Enjoy.

Continue reading: More from Ben Spies and Eddie Lawson - Part 2

Yamaha MotorUSA has produced the another great video, it’s not the usual funny ones that we’ve all enjoyed last year, but this time its American racing legend and four times World Champion Eddie Lawson talking with the reigning WSBK Champion Ben Spies about the cutting edge and the evolution of motorcycle technology.

Continue reading: Ben Spies and Eddie Lawson Talk Motorcycles - Part 1 (w/video)

For racing fans around the world WSBK Champion Ben Spies is a household name, but for the mainstream sports press especially in the U.S. where football rules and in motorsports, NASCAR is the queen, motorcyle racing is relegated to the role of Cinderella and barely gets a mention.

In Europe, motorcycle racers are recognized as atheletes and superstars and get in the news and on the front pages, so when Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert gets up in front of the U.S. House of Reprensentatives and pays tribute to Ben Spies and his world title, we think that this is a first step in the right direction in recognizing and bringing the due attention on this wonderful sport, that we all love and respect.

Press Release after the jump and if you want to see a video interview with Ben Spies discussing his switch to MotoGP on Wind Tunnel just click here.

Continue reading: Ben Spies Receives Accolades from Texas Congressman

After the computer theft from the Aspar team garage that occured at Sepang, there was another small mystery in the paddock surrounding Ben Spies’ helmet.

The Texas Terror usually wears a HJC FC-15 lid, but on Thursday Spies was sporting on track an Arai RX-7 GP Colin Edwards Red helmet with the Arai logos blanked out.

The question is why was Elbowz wearing his teammate’s helmet? Did he forget his helmets at home, did the airline lose them, were they stolen like the Aspar computers? If anyone knows the answer to our question, please let us know, so we can rest easier.

Source | motoblog

Continue reading: Why was Ben Spies wearing Colin Edwards Helmet?

After last year’s Valentino Rossi decked out in Santa Claus garb, this year we’ve got world champs Ben Spies, Valentino Rossi, and James “Bubba” Stewart from the Yamaha ‘family’ sending us their seasons greetings.

And yes, Rossi holding another cat, just like in the Ben Spies Method video.

Source | motorcycles.about.com

Continue reading: Season's Greetings from Yamaha

Not that we’re jealous or anything, but the guys at Motoblog.it got to see: Ben Spies‘ Superbike live, Max Biaggi’s Aprilia live, Troy Corser’s BMW live and new Superstock champion Xavier Simeon’s bike as well. The Akrapovic stand also has the (very hot) limited edition Akrapovic KTM RC8R 1190 on display.

Stand Akrapovic Eicma 2009

Continue reading: Akrapovic live at EICMA: Ben Spies, Max Biaggi and KTM limited edition on display

Yamaha Racing has released these official pics of Ben Spies‘ Yamaha M1 Valencia livery. The 2009 Superbike champion will have his MotoGP debut in the last round this season in what has been an exciting year for both WSBK and MotoGP.

The sponsor for Ben Spies‘ MotoGP appearance is Sterilgarda, the main sponsor of the Team Yamaha World Superbike. Check out the Ben Spies M1 livery in the gallery, with a couple of pics of the rider.

Yamaha M1 Ben Spies Valencia livery

Source | Motoblog.it

Continue reading: Ben Spies Yamaha M1 Valencia livery

Winning a World Championship has its perks. Ben Spies was presented this special Championship Ring by one of the WSBK partners Circuiti Gioielli. The ring was engraved with Spies’ name immediately after the second race at Portimao.

Gianfranco Quartaroli handmade this piece of jewelery from 18kt white gold adding 94 diamonds, 28 sapphires and 20 rubies with the Superbike logo in the center.

The value of the ring is € 30.000 euro and if you like SBK merchandising, copies of his Championship ring will be available in time for Christmas at the cost of € 25.000.

Source | motoblog

Continue reading: Ben Spies SBK Bling-Bling Ring

Yamaha took three world titles on Sunday, Ben Spies in WSBK, Valentino Rossi in MotoGP and Cal Crutchlow in Supersport and that’s not counting James Stewart’s World Supercross title or Leon Camier’s title in BSB, but Yamaha is still deeply in the red and the prospects are not looking good.

While Yamaha Motor Italy at Gerno di Lesmo were still celebrating Ben Spies, where his winning Yamaha R1 comes from, the company on Tuesday announced they were closing down their production line and moving it to Spain and have fired 66 workers out of 200, including Claudio Consonni head of production and the Superbike project.

A Yamaha USA press release, always on Tuesday, announced that they’re redirecting their road racing and motocross and supercross efforts for the 2010 season and had to eliminate some internal race department positions at Yamaha’s Cypress headquarters.

Continue reading: Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday Theory doesn't work for Yamaha

Ben Spies talks to Jonathan Green of On the Throttle TV after winning his first World Superbike Championship. His thoughts on the season, Noriyuki Haga, his tatics in the Portimao races and what he expects in MotoGP.

Talking to Fabrizio Calia of Italian TV LA7, Spies dedicated his championship to late friend Ryan Smith.

Continue reading: WSBK - More from Ben Spies