Ben Spies

Ben Spies (pronounced /ˈbɛn ˈspiːz/; born on July 11, 1984, in Memphis, Tennessee) is a renowned professional motorcycle road racer, affectionately nicknamed "Elbowz" for his distinctive riding posture where his elbows extend outward. He embarked on his professional racing career in 2000 and made a significant mark in the sport by winning the AMA Superbike Championship with Yoshimura Suzuki in 2006, a title he successfully defended in both 2007 and 2008. In 2009, he transitioned to the Superbike World Championship, competing for the Yamaha Italia team, and impressively clinched the championship in his debut season, edging out competitor Noriyuki Haga by a narrow six-point margin. Spies' journey into the world of racing commenced at the age of eight when he began riding Yamaha YSR50cc bikes with the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association in Texas. Currently, he resides in Italy, continuing to be a influential figure in the motorcycle racing community.