Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies and Aaron Yates are testing today at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park in Pahrump, Nevada, about an hour west of Las Vegas.

Spies is testing his GSX-R600 Supersport and GSX-R1000 Superstock machines, while Yates is reported to be doing photo and film work.

Sources on the scene report that the weather is very good, and depending on how much Spies and his Tom Houseworth-led crew get accomplished today, the team may or may not stay on for additional testing Friday.

Spies spent over three months recovering from injuries sustained when his rear Dunlop exploded at 186 mph during tire testing at Daytona International Speedway in October. The 2003 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion made his return to the racetrack last week in a test at Laguna Seca Raceway and was up to speed quickly, according to his team.

There are no Dunlop tire engineers, technicians or fitters working at Pahrump today, and members of the team are changing are their own tires.

There were also no Dunlop tire engineers or technicans present when Spies tested at Laguna Seca last week, although Sport Tire Services, which distributes Dunlop racing tires in the western United States, did send two tire fitters to Laguna Seca.