MotoGP – Interview Ben Spies: Lorenzo is the big favorite this year! – Ben Spies presents his HJC R-PHA 10 Replica helmet

Posted on by admin

Ben Spies interview: Lorenzo is the big favorite this year !

MotoGP - Interview Ben Spies: Lorenzo is the big favorite this year! - Ben Spies presents his HJC R-PHA 10 Replica helmet

Ben Spies took a stroll in Paris on Saturday before presenting his HJC R-PHA 10 Replica helmet at Sasie Center. The opportunity for French bikers to ask the Texan pilot for an autograph by exchanging a few words ! Interview Site.

Ben Spies presents his HJC R-PHA 10 Replica helmet

Last Saturday, MotoGP rider Ben Spies took advantage of his "weekend off" to visit the most beautiful city in the world: Pontault-Combault Paris! Installed in a lovely Excalibur chartered by his helmet sponsor HJC, the American rode between the drops in the company of dozens of fans who came to accompany him on a motorcycle.

Big Ben was thus able to discover the Champs de Mars and its Eiffel Tower, the Place de la Concorde and its Obelisk, the Champs-Élysees and its Triumphal Arch, the Louvre and its Pyramids, the Place de l’Opera and its .. . Opera, but also the A4 and its traffic jams: direction Sasie Center, where the store team had organized a nice reception..

Ben Spies’ helmet: HJC R-PHA 10

  • Shell: CAD technology fibers

  • Screen: 2D, anti-scratch and anti-fog, 95% UV protection

  • Comes with smoked screen and Pinlock

  • Button for tear-off

  • Tool-free "RapidFire" screen replacement

  • Closing the screen with a spring lever

  • Double D buckle closure

  • Channel ventilation (ACS)

  • Removable and washable interior, anti-odor and anti-perspiration (antibacterial Gingko fabric)

  • Grooves for passing prescription glasses

  • Maintenance kit for HJC helmet

  • Weight: approx. 1300 gr

  • Sizes: 3 caps, from XS to XXL

  • Price: 349 € in plain, 379 € decoration, 429 € Replica

  • 5 year warranty

While waiting for the new MotoGP star to take his place, "Matthew" Ilsoon Park, president of HJC Europe, explains that "Ben is here to present his Replica R-PHA helmet".

"It has just been released in Europe and will not arrive at its home in the United States until September for questions of homologation.", continues in perfect French the Korean who came to assist the world big boss, who had also made the trip.

Big news for 2010, this R-PHA 10 Replica helmet does not appear curiously in the catalogs, nor on the official site at the time of writing at least: "indeed, Ben and HJC renewed their contract in December 2009 and it was too late to introduce this Replica model in the list of new models", reveals the head of the European market.

Nevertheless, this well-conducted promotional operation should set the record straight: the must of the integral sport at HJC, let it be said, it is the R-PHA of Mister Ben Spies !

Triple AMA Superbike champion in 2006, 2007 and 2008, world champion of the same discipline in 2009 and currently a member of the Tech 3 team in MotoGP, the young 26-year-old rider – he will have them on July 11 – is undoubtedly the ‘one of the best flag bearers a helmet brand can have.

Extremely fast, Ben is also particularly loyal: the pilot has been riding with HJC since 2001, that is to say almost since the beginning of his professional racing career which he had started the year before … at the age of only 15 years old..

"The brand has done a lot for me and it continues to do so: on each event, I have a dedicated person from HJC who accompanies me and takes my comments or requests into account. I am therefore very happy to return the favor by having won these titles and integrating MotoGP."says the" Texan Terror ".

Naturally, among the wide range offered by the Korean giant, Ben’s preference goes to "his" R-PHA 10: in addition to the weight contained (1300 g), the optimized aerodynamics and the generous ventilation of his helmet, the American incense the decoration of its Replica !

Signed Aldo Druddi – ma que, the class! -, the design of the new "Speez" helmet is much more refined than the old one he wore in WSBK (read).

Lone Star State

100% American, 100% Texan even since the decoration of the front face of the helmet uses the white star on a blue background and the red and white stripes of the Texas flag. On its rear part, housed under the n ° 11 and the pilot’s initials, even appears the outline of the state where Ben is from, just like his teammate at Tech3 Colin Edwards !

"In the paddock, he’s probably the driver I get along with the most: I’ve known him since I was 7, he lived three hours from my house and I saw him a lot", tells us the American, Italian by adoption.

"During the season I live in Italy, it’s easier and more relaxing … but Nicky (Hayden, NDLR) and Colin go home every time !", adds Ben, fallen in love with Italy … and an Italian woman !

But as his helmet reminds us – and his accent! -, his only real "country" remains Texas. Also, when the Continental Circus will plant its tent in Laguna Seca (California) on July 25 for the United States Grand Prix, the "thoroughbred" colt of Herve Poncharal will do everything to succeed on his land. !

Give everything to Laguna Seca !

"I will give everything for my fans! After all I can’t win the championship so I can let go", already foresees the Yamaha rider all smiles:"we’ll see how it ends … if i finish !"

We only hope that Spies’ "desire to do well at home" will not end in the same disappointment as his Yamaha friend, the great Valentino Rossi, at Mugello…

Difference R1 – M1 ?
When asked to explain how the M1 is different from the R1, expert Ben Spies seems embarrassed: "pffff, it’s incomparable … We do not have the impression that they are built by the same manufacturer !", he admits simply. Despite a certain resemblance – but yes, a big Ohlins fork in the front, an inverted swingarm in the rear, an engine, a handlebars, a fairing and the title of champion in their respective category – comparing the MotoGP M1 to the Mondial SBK R1 would amount to comparing "a Formula One to a Touring Car". All is said ?!

Tried to replace the Doctor during his convalescence (read), Ben Spies explains to journalists and the lucky few who came to attend this conference that "no, I know absolutely nothing about the replacement of Valentino! It’s complicated on my side because of my status as a rookie rider and beyond that, because it’s Rossi’s bike"… Indeed, n ° 46 is not entrusted to just anyone !

Naturally, Ben would be both honored and curious to test the # 46 M1, which will have to hit the track again at the Catalan Grand Prix on July 4. "There are differences between my M1 and his … but I do not know them! One thing is certain: it wouldn’t be enough for me to ride it to ride as fast as Stoner, Pedrosa or Lorenzo", humbly recognizes pilot n ° 11.

These three men have indeed dominated – with Rossi, of course – the championship for three years already, but for Ben Spies there is no doubt: "Lorenzo is the big favorite" this year.

Lorenzo was the man to beat

The Texan cowboy goes even further: "Even before Rossi’s injury, Jorge was the best for me this year. Fast, stylish and confident: he was the man to beat and he remains that way. It’s up to him to manage the rest of the season differently from what he had no doubt expected"…

The questions ended, Ben takes the time to nibble on some snacks before granting us an interview. Then the fans, some of whom have been waiting for several hours, will finally be able to have posters, helmets, driving licenses, jackets, even Yamaha R1 special Ben Spies autographed. !

The American will not be idle on Saturday … I can’t wait for him to return to the circuits at Silverstone next weekend, a track he will have to discover again. But like, this time, his little fellow MotoGP, previously subscribed to Donington Park !

Under these conditions, will the n ° 11 of the French Tech 3 team be able to take the lead during the first runs, in qualifying, or even in the race? "It won’t be obvious", Ben warns."Of course they will discover the track, but they know their bike and the Bridges perfectly. I know, however, that I have no excuses: I have to do my best, that’s all". To be continued, on Site of course: interview next page.

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *