This is the Stattmann Baby!!  Time to Scatt a little bit.

I have to be careful or I’ll break my arm patting myself on the back over Ben Spies and his apparent AMA Superbike title.

Seeing Ben’s maturity at Fontana last spring I felt he was ready to assume the titles owned by Suzuki teammate Mat Mladin, a six-time Superbike king.

Ben’s been a Friend of the Freaks for nearly six years; ever since he showed up at a remote with a deer in the headlights gaze and a smile that let everyone know he wasn’t sure what was at stake.

But Ben learned the stakes on and off the track while closing the gap to Mladin and passing Mat this year.

All Ben needs is a 13th place finish at Mid-Ohio and the title is his no matter what Mladin does.

Weather delayed today’s Mid-Ohio feature and it was still in question as I wrote this.

But Ben will get his 2006 title and, when it happens, I’ll let the world know I told you so last April.

Ben’s good people.  So’s his Mom.  And it’s always nice to know good things can happen to good people.

Peace.