Late Tuesday afternoon Ben Spies tweeted the following link: http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jul/120724spiesnoy.htm

OTOR’s Gavin Emmett also checked in from a visit to Yamaha U.S. where the news had already reverberated around the offices in Cypress. It seems the Americans will be without a rider in speedblocks for the first time since 2004. Spies later tweeted: “I’m extremely happy to push for the rest of the season to my fans and myself next year starts a new chapter. And yes I’m pumped!”

Some are already talking about a move back to World Superbike. The factory Honda team is full, Yamaha was the best (if not the better current option) and Ducati already have American talent in the form of Nicky Hayden. Realistically, discounting the Italians and a Honda saddle with the likes of Gresini, the only place Spies can go is with a fully-fledged saddle back in the series he scooped in 2009. It is unusual for a rider to make a proactive move like the Texan has done – and further shows the importance of a medium like Twitter where the ’11 Dutch TT winner can communicate first and foremost to an audience of 118,00 followers – and a message from Yamaha and the factory team must be imminent.

This of course opens up a fresh and much coveted berth on the grid. Who could steer the other M1? Perhaps the most important question is whether Jorge Lorenzo (now contracted for another two years) has the clout with the factory to be able to dissuade his employers from a reunion with Valentino Rossi, who at 32 is still the most desirable (and bankable) commodity in the paddock. There is little love lost between the pair and it could be argued that the stock of the Spaniard is equal if not above that of the illustrious Italian. A final swansong with the company with whom much emotion, achievement and history was experienced would not be beyond the realms of possibility if Rossi feels there is little light at the end of the long Ducati tunnel.

From a purely patriotic viewpoint maybe Cal Crutchlow could now swing around from the advances by Ducati and plump for the hot seat…?