Spies has already made quite an impression in his very rookie season inside the World Superbike Championship, as he is trailing title favorite Noriyuki Haga by only 10 points with one round to go. Regardless of how the season will end, Spies will remain the winningest WSBK rider this season, as he has won no less than 13 races in 2009, as compared to Haga's 8.
His immense success in the World Superbikes triggered his immediate signing with Yamaha's customer team in the MotoGP, even though his projected debut in the series was supposed to by 2011. Making the step from AMA Superbikes to the MotoGP in only two years time will be quite a challenge for Spies, argued Hayden.
“Is he going to make the same impact he made in World Superbikes? I don't think a guy shows up and starts dominating. It's a different level. I've got a lot of respect for the Superbike series, and I've ridden with a lot of those riders, but still there's a difference here. It's deeper water,” said the Kentucky Kid, according to Autosport.
In addition, he argued the transition from Superbikes to 800cc machineries is harder that to 990cc ones (like in the past). Considering that former WSBK champions found it hard to adapt even with the 990cc bikes (including him, from his first season in the MotoGP) is proof enough that Spies will have to do some learning first, and later think of dominating the series.
“(Neil) Hodgson, (Ruben) Xaus, many guys (found it hard)... I think the transition was easier from Superbike to 990cc than to 800cc. It's a big step. I raced in World Superbikes as a wildcard and felt pretty good about myself, but I showed up here and I saw the level. It will be exciting to see how he does. He'll make it, he's got talent, he's got determination, he's got a good Yamaha ride. He can cut it here,” added the Ducati rider.
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