Defending AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies walked away from a big crash in the first AMA Superbike practice Friday morning at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Details are still coming in, but it appears Spies crashed in the high-speed chicane leading to the Keyhole section of the 2.4-mile course. Spies’ Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 ended up crossing the track at the exit of the Keyhole, where it finally came to rest. The session was stopped with a red flag. Spies caught a ride back to the pits with Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki’s Robertino Pietri. After getting off Pietri’s bike, Spies jogged back to his pit area. According to American Suzuki P.R. representative Wendy Black, Spies is physically OK. At the time, Spies was second-fastest in the session with a 1:26.386. Spies’ teammate Mat Mladin was leading the practice at the time of the crash with a 1:25.356. Spies resumed riding when the session was restarted.
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