Ben Spies

Ben Spies, born on July 11, 1984, is a celebrated motorcycle racer known for his distinctive riding style that earned him the nickname "Elbows." His elbows would often protrude outward, a testament to his aggressive racing technique.

Spies began his racing career at the tender age of eight, riding Yamaha YSR50cc bikes with the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association in Texas. His talent quickly became evident, leading him to win the AMA Superbike Championship for Yoshimura Suzuki in two thousand six, a title he successfully defended in the following years, two thousand seven and two thousand eight.

In two thousand nine, Spies made a remarkable transition to the Superbike World Championship series, racing for the Yamaha Italia team. In a stunning rookie season, he clinched the championship by a narrow margin of six points over his rival, Noriyuki Haga.

After a successful career, Spies announced his retirement from motorcycle racing on October 26, two thousand thirteen, following two serious crashes that resulted in permanent shoulder injuries. However, his legacy in the sport continues, as on October 17, two thousand twenty-three, Graham Rahal appointed him as the team principal for the Rahal Ducati Moto Supersport team.