Yonny Hernandez Replacing Ben Spies for Rest of Season

Yonny Hernandez is to replace the injured Ben Spies for the rest of the 2013 MotoGP season. So far, Spies’ seat has been filled by Ducati tester Michele Pirro, but the stress of racing as well as working through a very busy test schedule has taken its toll on the young Italian.

Furthermore, Pirro racing the three flyaways would have meant that testing would have ceased for the three-week duration, and with work in full swing for the 2014 season, that was not time Ducati had to lose.

Who will take Hernandez place at PBM is as yet unknown. Michael Laverty looks set to take Hernandez’s ART machine for the rest of the season, while no clear favorite has yet emerged to take over the PBM Aprilia on the other side of the garage.

What this means for Spies’ future is as yet uncertain. The Texan has a contract with Ducati for the 2014 season, but Spies’ extended absence through injury has created tension in the Pramac team.

There is unfounded paddock gossip that if Hernandez adapts well to the Desmosedici, he could take Spies’ place next year. That, however, depends on a messy and expensive severance between Ducati and Spies.

At the moment, such talk should be rated as improbable, but not entirely impossible.

This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.