MOTOGP: Visor Problem Halts Spies' Rossi Attack

[alexsracing]

Ben Spies had plans to challenge Valentino Rossi but was caught out by a flapping helmet visor.



A flapping helmet visor cost American Ben Spies any chance of pulling off a bold bid for a home podium in the United States Grand Prix. Just as Spies was about to mount an assault on Valentino Rossi in a dramatic Laguna Seca contest he was forced to ride one-handed to close his visor.

It was just one of what Spies described as a series of "small, stupid mistakes" that cost him an opportunity of engaging superstar Rossi in the closing stages of the 32-lap race.

Rossi eventually finished third in race won by Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo.

"I had the speed to be on the podium but couldn't get it done and that was ultimately my fault," Spies said after recovering to finish sixth. "It sucks that it (the visor) was a problem but that's the way it is."

Spies had been distracted by his flapping visor and the wind hitting his face numerous times during the race on the bumpy, twisting Laguna circuit.

"You wheelie quite a lot at Laguna and you're banging your head on the fairing and the visor lifting was a problem the whole race -- it was quite distracting," he said.

After drifting from third to seventh after a blistering start Spies had closed his Tech3 Yamaha to within 0.2s of Rossi in fourth with the pair both running a half second per lap faster than Andrea Dovizioso, then third.



Rossi was a on massive charge and Spies was in his draft and planning a passing move on the following lap, at Turn 2, when his visor again unclipped entering the Corkscrew.

"I had to ride through the Corkscrew, Rainey Curve, and the next corner with the visor open and the wind hitting my face and then before the final corner I put up my hand to close it only to miss my braking zone," Spies said.

"It was one of those things, a stupid mistake. I knew I wasn't going to make the corner and the bike snapped and probably look pretty violent but I got off the brakes and kept it out of the gravel but by then the race was over.

"I had the pace to catch Rossi but he's not 100% fit so I'm not tooting my horn, and he may have retaliated and who knows what would have happened.

"But it's frustrating to know I could have been on the podium."

Juts minutes later on lap 27 Rossi made his move on Dovizioso, struggling with Honda's front braking stability, and secured third place.

Despite his helmet dramas and sixth place Spies reflected on the positive side of his rookie session so far that has seen him finish eighth or better in seven MotoGP races.

"The most important thing is that I've had a few weekends where I could fight for the podium and it's my first year in MotoGP, plus I'm on a satellite team," Spies said. "What else can you ask for? The guys I'm racing with are on factory bikes and have been in GPs for many years so I can't complain, I'm happy where I'm at."

[mR.1]

i enjoyed the race, Ben is only getting better and better

[fatguyona1000]

Yeah, it's badass about Spies having a good rookie start. It sucks that Rossi's basically out of it though.