virgivaughn: Kats Nakasuga To Replace Ben Spies At Valencia

Katsuyuki Nakasuga is to replace Ben Spies in the factory Yamaha team for the final race of the season at Valencia. Spies, who had to undergo surgery on the shoulder he damaged in the race crash in Sepang, has been ruled out of the rest of the season. The race at Phillip Island had come at too short notice for Yamaha to find a substitute for the injured Spies, but the Valencia race allowed them to secure the services of Nakasuga.

The choice of Nakasuga is a safe and very conservative one, but it was always the most probable outcome. Nakasuga is Yamaha's MotoGP test rider, and would have been on hand in Valencia anyway. Nakasuga made an appearance at Motegi this year, where he finished a creditable 9th. Fans had been lobbying for either AMA champion Josh Hayes or former BSB champion Tommy Hill to take the ride. Hayes, in particular, had proven his worth with an impressive outing as a replacement for Colin Edwards at Tech 3 in Valencia last year.