Never underestimate the ability of a non-factual statement made on television to be regarded as gospel in distant corners of the enthusiast ranks.

In race two at Portugal last weekend, one of the series announcers--who are really becoming the barnstormers of assumptions--shrieked that Spies was suffering some kind of technical problem with his Yamaha. Inferring that was the reason he slowed after winning race one.

Since then this story has almost sprouted legs and started walking the earth, it's been repeated and asked about so many times since then.

Both Spies and his crewchief, Tom Houseworth, deny there was any issue with the bike.

Spies, speaking from his home in Como, Italy, yesterday reiterated that he simply made a tactical decision to finish in a position which would allow him to win the title. Spies said that he remained reasonably certain that he could have won race two if he'd desired to, but wasn't going to risk the title.