On The Pegs February 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 2 | Page 31

On The Pegs
Vol. 3 Issue 1 - January 2018
P 31
BEN SPIES OUT
Just weeks before his scheduled return to national off-road competition at the
opening round of the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series, Ben Spies suffered a
broken scapula in a practice crash at his family ranch in southeast Texas. Spies was
preparing for the enduro opener when the setback occurred.
In addition to the broken scapula, Spies suffered a collapsed lung in addition to
a couple of broken ribs.
The former World Champion road racer and MotoGP star had planned on rac-
ing most of the national enduro series in addition to select Full Gas Sprint Enduro
rounds in 2018.
Spies, who won three consecutive AMA Superbike championships, the 2009
World Superbike title, and one MotoGP race, was forced to retire from road rac-
ing four years ago due to a nagging shoulder injury. Luckily, it was the opposite
shoulder he injured this time.
“I’m super bummed I’m going to have to miss the first two or three rounds of
the @nepgenduro series,” Spies posted on his Instagram feed. “Super bummed as
I felt I was getting into a rhythm with everything on the bike. The games we play!”
Be sure to check out the interview On The Pegs did with Spies just days before
his accident. You can find it in the off-road section of this issue.