[David]

Well, I feel bad for Haga and Japan, they were both due a world championship.

But as a Texan and American, I'm happy for Ben Spies.

He carries on a tradition of Texas and near Texas motorcycle racers doing well on the world stage:

Freddie Spencer (Shreveport, LA)
Kevin Schwantz (Houston)
Doug Polan (Dallas)
Colin Edwards (Houston)
Nicky Hayden (Kentucky, but raced a bunch in amateur Texas races)
Ben Spies (Longview, TX)

And all of these guys spent considerable time on my favorite track, Oak Hill, which is not too far from Longview, TX (or Shreveport, La.)