MotoGP: Ben Spies to replace Valentino Rossi?
July 29, 2010 by Nigel Tasker
Filed under Featured, MotoGP
If Valentino Rossi’s rumoured move to Ducati in 2011 is finalised, Fiat Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis has confirmed that Tech 3’s Ben Spies is at the front of the queue to replace him
Spies, who is in his rookie year in MotoGP after joining the Tech 3 satellite team this year, has been named as the man to partner Jorge Lorenzo in 2011, with Yamaha wanting to have the matter cleared up before they reach Brno in a fortnight’s time. Jarvis has stated that he wants the team line-up to be confirmed by the Czech round.
“If one of our two riders leave, then he will be in the team,” Jarvis continued. “We believe we will have a winning team in 2011,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Rossi is fully expected to move on to Ducati at the end of the season, but Jarvis has confirmed that an offer remains on the table for the defending champion to remain with Yamaha.
“The proposal has been made and I would say things are at a good point,” he added. “We would like everything to be agreed for Brno so we can announce the 2011 team.”
“I can’t give details on negotiations but the offer we have made is perfectly acceptable,” Jarvis added. “That is our view.”
Jarvis has also confirmed that the search for a new sponsor has also begun, with the team’s current title sponsor, Fiat, expected to follow Rossi to Ducati. Reports have claimed that Yamaha is talking with existing partner Petronas, who already have a relationship with the team, whilst talks with Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica have also been reported.
“It depends on the answer we get from Valentino,” stated Jarvis. “We already have a contract with Petronas for 2011 and could increase their effort and space on the bike. We are also talking with other companies outside motorcycling but we aren’t worried.
“This will be the third step and the priority is to sort the team.”
