Yamaha wants Spies, Sykes to stay

Yamaha WSB team manager Massimo Meregalli says it is his intention to re-sign Ben Spies for at least one more World Superbike season in 2010 as part of what he hopes will be an unchanged rider line-up with Tom Sykes.

Spies enters the latter stages of his maiden world championship season well involved in the fight for the title, having slashed Noriyuki Haga's advantage in the overall standings to 14 points with ten races remaining this year.

Spies' form, which has seen him win five of the last six races, has come at a pivotal moment in the rider market, with the American reportedly being courted by a number of MotoGP and rival World Superbike teams.

Although Spies was remaining coy on the situation at the previous round of the series at Donington Park, he did reveal to Crash.net that a decision will be made soon.

For Meregalli, he is hoping Spies chooses to remain with his Yamaha team for at least one more season, regardless of whether he does go on and win this year's title at his first attempt.

"We don't know anything yet," he told Crash.net. "We are definitely working on retaining him and I would like to work with him next year. I know that, for his career, the target is MotoGP, but I hope he will stay in World Superbikes for one more year and then move there."

With few movements in the rider market so far this summer, much is thought to depend on Spies' decision, not least for Meregalli, who has a few riders in mind as a replacement for Spies should he need one.

Included amongst these is double WSBK champion James Toseland. It is believed Spies and Toseland could swap positions between Yamaha WSB and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3, although Toseland insists he is planning to stay where he is in MotoGP (click here).

"I don't know whether we can do a direct swap with MotoGP, but he is definitely one of the riders we have in consideration," Meregalli continued.

Despite the prospect of having a former champion in his midst, Meregalli admits he would like an unchanged rider line-up for 2010, adding that Sykes, despite having not stepped on the podium, is enjoying a 'positive season'.

"I was expecting a podium at the last race and I'm sure without the crash it would have been possible. But we are satisfied because it is his first year of riding in World Superbikes and, in the end, he is seventh in the championship and the person in front of him is Max Biaggi. It's been a positive season."

Discussing the Briton's future within the team, Meregalli says Yamaha have an option to retain him for 2010, but added that Sykes can also guarantee himself an automatic renewal if he is classified high enough in the overall standings by the end of this weekend's event at Brno.

"We have an option on him for 2010, but we have to wait and see where he is placed at the end of July because he can have a renewal depending on where he is. I can't decide myself, but I think we should continue with him because I think he is doing a good job."

Beyond Spies, Sykes and Toseland, Meregalli also acknowledged the success of Yamaha riders Cal Crutchlow and Leon Camier in World Supersport and British Superbikes championships respectively, even if he suggests it is unlikely Yamaha will have an all British line-up in 2010.

"Cal is doing a good job in Supersport and maybe he can win the title. I have seen what Leon is doing in BSB, but I don't think we can have two British riders. It is a decision that Yamaha will have to take, but I would like to continue with the current situation if that is possible."