Spies says engine failure ruined realistic chance of MotoGP victory at Indianapolis
Ben Spies believes he was in with a realistic chance of victory at Indianapolis before his engine blew early on while the Texan was in second
Spies had moved to the front of the field in the opening stages and then fended off one challenge from Honda's Dani Pedrosa, before finally succumbing to the Spaniard on lap four.
The Yamaha rider kept him honest however until his engine blew on the main straight just two laps later, allowing Pedrosa to cruise to a dominant victory and leaving Spies to bemoan another stroke of bad luck which he felt cost him a shot at victory in his home race.
"It's my third mechanical [failure] this season, I think someone owes me money for that. My luck has been crap," Spies reflected.
"I was really banged up yesterday, I gave it 100 per cent but for whatever reason it happened.
"The bike felt good, and I felt good off the start. I could tell Dani was using a lot more rear tyre than I was, and in the last few years [at Indianapolis] he came back towards me.
"Over 28 laps I think we had a shot to win. For sure the podium was possible because I could already see the gaps. But then on my last lap the bike started slowing severely and went kaboom on the straight. I moved over straight away so it wouldn't affect Jorge or anyone else."
Spies remains 10th in the championship as a result of his failure, having failed to finish either of MotoGP's two US races.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Silverstone: Circuit of Wales is not viable
Qatar MotoGP: Marquez beats Rossi in action-packed race
Redding: I've got to 'do a Marquez'
Nicky Hayden: Remembering motorsport's much-loved "one-off" five years on
Morbidelli/Rossi relationship won’t change as MotoGP team-mates
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
F1 teams and Pirelli had no warning of “painted” Shanghai track surface
Sainz will have to "survive with what we have" in F1 China sprint
F1 Chinese GP sprint race and qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more
WRC Croatia: Neuville sets the pace to lead title rival Evans
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing for the better
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments