Suzuki thrilled with Spies' performance

The reigning AMA Superbike champion had never tested the Suzuki MotoGP machine in the wet, yet grabbed a third row position in the rain at Donington Park, where he is substituting for the injured Loris Capirossi.

"I think it is an amazing result today and a performance that he should be proud of," said team boss Paul Denning.

"It doesn't matter what the conditions are and what the circumstances are, it's the same for everyone out there - he's gone quicker today than some of the world's very best riders on his first visit ever to Donington and his first time on a GP bike in the wet."

But Spies said he was slightly disappointed with his result.

"I am pretty pleased with the result today, but I still want to be up front!" he said. "I know I've got to take it step-by-step, but every session we are getting better and better again so things seem to be going good.

"If it's wet again tomorrow morning and the race is in the dry it's going to be pretty tough, but I think we will be able to cope with it, the crew are doing a real good job and I think everyone was pleased with how things went today.

"I'm pretty happy to get in the top 10 at my first GP qualifying and I've got to keep moving on from here."

Denning added that the team were not putting any pressure on Spies to stay with the lead group, as they do not expect him to match the experienced riders in the dry.

"If the weather is dry tomorrow I think we are all very realistic that it will be tough for Ben to run the pace of the riders around him, simply because of his lack of experience of both the bike and the circuit, but his confidence will certainly have been lifted by today's result," he said.

"We just hope he now brings the bike home, enjoys his first Grand Prix and continues with his learning process."