It appears that Spies' ego has got the better of Yamaha.
At the moment of realization that a factory spot is less than likely, Ben bails.
The timing is a little sad as Yamaha is a huge player in the Laguna Seca round. This comes as not a shock, just a hard pill to swallow.
The premier class is one tuff nut to crack and it looks like his intestinal fortitude floundered.
My guess is he will head back to Yoshimura Suzuki to knock Haye's around for a coupla years.
Suzuki never found the replacement for him or Mladin and they have no dogs in any other fight.
They would be smart to throw Spies a bone or a million and have him be the big fish in the little pond.
I cant think whete else he could go and rebuild his ego more rapidly. It was certainly depleated rapid enough.
I wish him luck, wish he could have let the chips fall and let Yamaha look a little more humble.

He says his sponsors are behind his decision, so I'm not sure it is an ego decision. Most likely he would have been sacked at the end of the season anyway, so its probably a smart move for him anyway.

He hasn't made the transition to the 1000 cc Moto GP bikes very well. He was doing fine on the 800cc bikes, but hasn't done squat since the transition. Maybe the 1000cc power is just too much for him? Or maybe Yamaha is throwing all the good stuff to that whinging c*nt Jorgay and he's gotten sick of it? Right now he's not saying and that is also a smart move. In any event, I wish him well in whatever he chooses to do.

Spies will drive BMW in WSBK next year

Ride BMW since he's not sitting in the safetycar