MotoGP: Spies in, Toseland out at Tech 3 Yamaha in 2010
World Superbike rookie sensation Ben Spies has made a swift last minute decision to switch to MotoGP in 2010, leaving British star James Toseland without a seat, with an announcement expected to come at next weekend's Imola round of the Superbike World Championship in Italy.
Spies is set to take on Rossi and co. in MotoGP 2010
It’s all but confirmed that American Ben Spies will be joining the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha team in the MotoGP World Championship for 2010, with sources close to the World Superbike rookie hero signalling that the deal has been finalised.
Despite Yamaha announcing that Spies would remain with the factory World Superbike team for another season before switching to MotoGP in 2011, it’s been decided that Spies will step up a year earlier than planned after taking an 18-point lead at the Nurburgring WSBK round in Germany.
It’s expected that confirmation will come from Yamaha at the Imola round of the WSBK championship next weekend, ultimately leaving British rider James Toseland without a premier class seat as he was advised of the decision this week according to British Motorcycle News.
Toseland is now believed to be looking at a return to the WSBK championship, a title he has won twice before, even looking to remain at Yamaha in what would be a direct swap with Spies – one of the most hotly sought after seats in the series.
Spies will be partnered with fellow Texan Colin Edwards in 2010, effectively making ‘Team Texas’ a reality after various media outlets speculated the possibility last month.
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