Historical greatness is measured not only by accomplishments, but also by timing.

Since the NBA is in playoff mode, let’s use that as an example. Julius Irving was, at one point in time, the greatest basketball player anyone had every seen. Then, along came Michael Jordan. Then, LeBron James.

Imagine, for a moment, if Dr. J, MJ, and King James all played basketball during the same era. How would the greatness of those three superstars be ranked? Who among those three would be “the greatest”?

King Kenny Roberts and Freddie Spencer. Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwantz. Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez. Each of those pairings of motorcycle legends were essentially born at either the right time, or the wrong time, depending on how you look at it.

Mat Mladin and Ben Spies.

If you subscribe to the theory that “iron sharpens iron,” then Mladin and Spies achieved greatness because of each other. Or, possibly, in spite of each other.

Texan Ben Spies not only raced during the same era as Mat Mladin, but the pair were teammates on the same Yoshimura Suzuki squad. Mladin won seven AMA Superbike Championships. But, amidst that dominance, Ben Spies won three AMA Superbike Championships.

How many championships might Spies have won if he’d been born at a different time? If Australian Mladin hadn’t decided to make his bones in America? If Spies hadn’t decided to move up to World Superbike and MotoGP?

Mladin and Spies are a little bit like Roberts and Spencer. Kenny and Mat were brash, cocky, and outspoken. Freddie and Ben were quiet, introspective, and socially awkward.

Mat Mladin called his upstart young teammate Ben Spies a “mama’s boy.” What did Spies do? He had “Mama’s Boy” put across the backside of his leathers.

When they raced, Mladin and Spies didn’t get along. But their dislike for each other helped drive each of them to greatness. At the same time.

How in the world did Ben Spies win three AMA Superbike Championships with Mat Mladin not only his rival but also his teammate?

That’s what historic greatness is. Overcoming adversity, rising to the challenge, and succeeding against the odds.

Ben Spies was born with natural talent. As a child, he loved racing motorcycles. When you love something, you’re usually good at it. And, when you’re good at something, you also usually love doing it. Spies already had that in his arsenal before he turned pro.

Then, he jumped into a fiery crucible and was forged into a world-class motorcycle road racer. He won four straight Superbike championships: three in America and one on the world stage. His 2009 WorldSBK Championship is still almost too incredible to comprehend. He switched from his tried-and-true Suzuki GSX-R1000 in America to a Yamaha YZF-R1 overseas and immediately proceeded to earn pole positions, win races, and clinch a world title in his first try.

Historic greatness. That’s what Ben Spies represents. And it’s also why he is being honored as Grand Marshal this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park for MotoAmerica’s ongoing celebration of “50 Years Of Superbike Racing.”

Congratulations, Ben.