Motegi MotoGP: Food poisoning slows exhausted Ben Spies

Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies had to stop after just five laps of this afternoon’s second MotoGP practice at the Twin Ring Motegi as he continues to struggle with a bout of chronic food poisoning.

The Texan picked up the sickness bug ahead of the long flight to Tokyo from America earlier this week and he had to halt his preparations this afternoon in Japan because of exhaustion.

Spies had needed treatment last night in the medical centre that gave him enough strength to start Yamaha’s vital home Grand Prix this morning.

The 2009 World Superbike champion clocked a best time of 1.48.197 to finish eighth quickest but he’d managed just five laps and a time of 1.48.567 this afternoon when he called it a day.

Spies underwent more extensive treatment in the circuit’s medical centre this afternoon and he said: “What a shocking start to the weekend, I don’t think I’ve ever been as sick as I was on the journey over here, I was nearly not allowed on the plane. I’m slowly getting my strength back thanks to the great guys at Clinica but didn’t have enough to ride properly in the second session. I started to get tunnel vision on the straight and just felt it was too dangerous to be out there.  I’m working with Clinica today and tomorrow and am sure things will be a bit better for qualifying and the race. I’m really sorry for my team and all the Japanese fans who came to watch today.”

Team-mate Jorge Lorenzo also had a difficult day as he struggled to match a Honda onslaught.

Lorenzo was fifth fastest with four factory RC212V bikes in front of him, including title rival Casey Stoner in second.

He set a best time of 1.47.310 but he was 0.520s behind Dani Pedrosa and he said: “We improved the lap time quite a lot from the morning to the afternoon session but it’s still not enough, the competition is very strong here. It is going to be a very difficult weekend to fight for the podium and the victory. We are trying some things on the bike to improve the stability on braking and into corners. We found a little but still need to find some more! We are fifth which could be worse today.”