Yamaha Motor Company., Ltd herewith confirms that Ben Spies, currently 2nd in the World Superbike Championship, will be moving to the MotoGP Championship in 2010 to join the Tech 3 Yamaha Team. The Texan recently signed a two-year deal with Yamaha, which originally planned for him to remain in World Superbike for one more year before moving to MotoGP in 2011, but Spies and Yamaha together have decided to advance the move by one year. The 25-year-old is currently just three points behind and has just two more World Superbike rounds to contest in his efforts to win his and Yamaha’s first World Superbike title. “I want to thank Yamaha globally for their faith in me,” said Spies. “They have treated me like royalty! Yamaha just recently allowed me to rethink my contract for 2010-2011; I did sign for WSB for 2010 but after Indy I began thinking of the competition and my age versus waiting until 2011. This was not an easy decision, the Yamaha World Superbike Team crew and especially Massimo (Maio) Meregalli have been fantastic and it’s been great fun to put in a season together. I am hoping that I can give Maio, Laurens Klein Koerkamp and everyone else a championship to remember this year with me. My thanks also extend to ‘Infront’, the promoter of the WSB series, especially Paolo Ciabatti. I have enjoyed his series and this first year racing in Europe. Now I have two challenges, to complete this year giving my best and to move towards new goals in MotoGP. Herve Poncharal at Tech 3 is showing his support by allowing me to come on board with my Crew Chief Tom Houseworth and Gregory Wood, my mechanic, who have both been with me since AMA days. We will have learning curves to overcome next year but I am up for the new goal. I hope to have a good year and my goal is to try and stay in the top 6-8 which, given the talented line up, will be a tall order. With the world upside down, there is one constant for me and that’s Yamaha.” Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said “Following the announcement of Ben’s two year deal with Yamaha one month ago, he has reassessed his options and decided that he would like to move to MotoGP sooner rather than later. Yamaha has considered his request and together with Tech 3 we were able to find a way to make it happen. Ben has done a fantastic job in his rookie season in World Superbike and we are very excited to now be welcoming him into our MotoGP program sooner than we originally expected. We believe that Ben will be a fast learner next season and a strong future championship contender. We look forward to working with him in the years ahead.” Laurens Klein Koerkamp of Yamaha Motor Europe commented, “Of course we’re sorry to see Ben leave Yamaha’s World Superbike program and we are currently enjoying a fantastic season with him, but it’s clear that it’s the right decision for Ben’s career and for Yamaha. One of Yamaha’s goals is to bring up future MotoGP talent through Superbike and it is satisfying for us to see that this rider development route is working. Before he moves we still have some serious business to finish with Ben this year at the remaining two rounds! “Although Ben will be missed I have no doubt that our new World Superbike line-up for next year will see us once again challenging for the title. We will be cheering loudly for Ben in MotoGP and we look forward to seeing him on the YZR-M1.” More, from a press release issued by Monster Yamaha Tech 3: Colin Edwards and Ben Spies to ride for Monster Yamaha Tech 3 in 2010 The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is delighted to announce it will field Colin Edwards and Ben Spies in an all-American line-up for the 2010 MotoGP world championship. Edwards has agreed a new one-year contract after the Texan produced the best form of his MotoGP career during 2009, including a stunning second place in the British MotoGP at Donington Park. The 35-year-old has featured in the top seven in ten out of 13 races so far and he’s still firmly in contention for a top five world championship placing. Joining the vastly experienced Edwards will be fellow Texan Spies. The 25-year-old joins the Tech 3 squad with outstanding credentials h aving enjoyed phenomenal success on board Yamaha’s R1 machine in the World Superbike championship. Winner of 12 out of 24 races so far with nine pole positions, Spies is already ranked in the top 15 World Superbike riders in history. Herve Poncharal Team Manager “I am delighted that Colin will remain with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in 2010. He has proved once again in 2009 that he remains one of the world’s best riders and he is a tremendous asset for Tech 3, Yamaha and Monster. Colin has been an integral part of our recent success and his dedication and impressive performances mean his new contract is thoroughly deserved. It also gives me great pleasure to welcome Ben to Tech 3. It’s a very exciting prospect having a rider of Ben’s calibre join our team. Everybody is aware that he is a rider with i ncredible talent and huge potential, which he has proved with some outstanding performances for Yamaha in World Superbikes this season. And I have no doubt that together with Tech 3, Yamaha and Monster that Ben will be a big success in 2010 in MotoGP. Colin and Ben together means Tech 3 will arguably field its strongest ever line-up and everybody in the team can look forward to 2010 with tremendous excitement and optimism. Finally I would also like to thank James Toseland. He has been one of the most determined and dedicated riders ever to work with Tech 3. I have nothing but admiration for James and it has been a privilege working with him. I wish him all the best for the future.” More, from a press release issued by Indianapolis Motor Speedway: SPIES TO JOIN EDWARDS IN ALL-AMERICAN TECH 3 MotoGP LINEUP IN 2010 INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 Team Texas is coming to the MotoGP World Championship in 2010. Ben Spies will join fellow Texan Colin Edwards on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team in 2010, forming an all-American rider lineup. It’s the first time Americans will team up for a full season in the premier class since 2005, when Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins paired for Suzuki. There will be three Americans on the MotoGP grid in 2010, as Kentucky native Nicky Hayden rides for the Ducati Team. Spies, Edwards and Hayden will join MotoGP stars Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa in the field for the third annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “I want to thank Yamaha globally for their faith in me,” Spies said. “They have treated me like royalty! Yamaha just recently allowed me to rethink my contract for 2010-2011. I did sign for WSB for 2010, but after Indy I began thinking of the competition and my age versus waiting until 2011. “We will have learning curves to overcome next year, but I am up for the new goal. I hope to have a good year, and my goal is to try and stay in the top six to eight, which, given the talented lineup, will be a tall order.” Spies, 25, from Longview, Texas, will make his full-season MotoGP debut in 2010. Edwards, 35, from Conroe, Texas, will enter his eighth MotoGP season next year and his third consecutive season with the Tech 3 team. Spies moved to the Superbike World Championship in 2009 after winning his third consecutive American Motorcyclist Association Superbike title in 2008. He has enjoyed a superb rookie season in World Superbike with the Yamaha factory team, winning 12 of the first 24 races. He is second in the series standings, just three points out of the lead with four races remaining. In 2008, Spies impressed the MotoGP paddock with three strong performances as a wild-card rider. He qualified eighth in wet conditions in his MotoGP debut in the British Grand Prix, finished eighth in the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., and finished sixth in the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP in September at IMS. Edwards is sixth in the MotoGP standings this season, with a best finish of second in the British Grand Prix on July 26. He is the top American and the top non-factory team rider in the standings this season. “I am delighted that Colin will remain with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in 2010,” said Herve Poncharal, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team manager. “He has proved once again in 2009 that he remains one of the world’s best riders. “It also gives me great pleasure to welcome Ben to Tech 3. It’s a very exciting prospect having a rider of Ben’s caliber join our team. Everybody is aware that he is a rider with incredible talent and huge potential, which he has proved with some outstanding performances for Yamaha in World Superbikes this season. And I have no doubt that together with Tech 3, Yamaha and Monster that Ben will be a big success in 2010 in MotoGP. Colin and Ben together means Tech 3 will arguably field its strongest-ever lineup, and everybody in the team can look forward to 2010 with tremendous excitement and optimism.” *** IMS tickets: Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. Beginning in 2009, the Speedway celebrates its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2011. Tickets can be purchased online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.