Ben Spies is the Jimmie Johnson of motorcycle racing – a two-time champion itching for a three-peat.
In fact, the reigning AMA Superbike champion would like not only to repeat, but to treat the AMA record books like the tuna at the sushi restaurant in Dallas he has invested in.
Spies beat Mladin for the Superbike title last year by a single point, despite Mladin winning 12 of the 19 races. So the 23-year-old young gun knows who he has to beat again this year.
“The fans would obviously like to see closer racing,” he said. “But it’s not out fault at the end of the day that we’re winning the races.”
It’s up to the rest of the field, he said, to pick it up and give them a run for their money.
Last year Spies won not only the Superbike title but the Superstock title as well, with seven wins and seven poles.
“It’s a lot less work physically and mentally,” he said, pointing out that running both classes was an extra 3½ hours of racing each weekend, which is tough physically in addition to having to concentrate on two different bikes and two different strategies.
“If it’s GP, which it could be, I hope I’m winning championships,” he said.
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