WSBK – Interview Christophe Guyot: what future for the World Superbike? –

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Interview Christophe Guyot: what future for the World Superbike ?

WSBK - Interview Christophe Guyot: what future for the World Superbike? -

The Superbike World Championship should undergo major changes in the years to come. While waiting for the publication of the technical rules, Site spoke with Christophe Guyot of GMT94, who was racing in WSBK in 2008 and 2009.

The World Superbike is about to change its face: without going into details, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), Dorna (promoter of the WSBK) and the MSMA (manufacturers’ association) announced at the beginning of June that they were working on an evolution of the regulations in three steps.

"The aim was to aim for cost reduction and set a maximum price for the motorcycle and its components, which would drop over the next three years.", officially declared the governing bodies of the WSBK:"a draft of new technical rules will be published soon".

A month later, in an interview with our colleagues from The Gazetta Dello Sport, the president of Dorna, Carmelo Ezpeleta, specified that in 2014 a (sub?) category called EVO would be born, which would be to the WSBK what the CRT is to MotoGP…

According to the big Spanish boss, this new family would consist of motorcycles closer to the series, which would allow private – budget teams! – to line up in World Superbike. To bait them – because nothing prevented them from engaging with a "stock" motorcycle until now! -, an Evo ranking would be established on the sidelines of the general.

While awaiting the official announcement of the changes to the WSBK, Site contacted a Superbike icon in France: Christophe Guyot. By answering our questions, the GMT94 team manager sets out his clear and precise point of view on the question of the future of World Superbike..

For him, the answer is simple, "we have to go back to the original spirit: a stock motorcycle, regulations to make changes and independent bodies (FIM) to control them"… Explanations.

Site: GMT94 competed in two World Supersport seasons (2006 and 2007) before moving up to World Superbike for two new seasons (2008 and 2009). What memories do you keep of these four years ?
Christophe Guyot: There are many ! The first rows in Italy, France, Holland in the Mondial Supersport or the second row in WSBK alongside Carlos Checa at Magny-Cours in 2008.

MNC: Feed on regrets ?
C. G.: That of having spent at the wrong time in SBK (electronics made an appearance) while we were doing great things in Supersport.

MNC: Your "wild card" for the French World Superbike event at Magny-Cours this year has been confirmed ?
C. G.: Not yet. We have tests to perform.

MNC: Is the fact that the world championship is being played on Pirelli (and that you wear Michelin in Endurance) a hindrance to your participation ?
C. G.: Sportsmanship is a priority at Michelin. Executives lament the one-man manufacturer rule, but they won’t stop a competitor from racing.

MNC: The FIM, Dorna and MSMA are currently working on a three-step evolution of the WSBK in order to reduce costs … but are slow to outline their plans. What types of orientations could motivate you to return to this discipline ?
C. G.: For now, our priority is to regain a world title in endurance. This is where we are focused.

MNC: The leaders of the World Superbike Championship are looking to set a maximum price for the bike. How much do you think they should aim for ?
C. G.: Establishing a price level is to admit that the regulation is badly done and that it leaves the door open to too expensive developments. The price of an original motorcycle is set by the importer. For accessories (brakes, suspensions etc.) it is sufficient to impose that one uses parts that everyone has the right to buy and the prices will be de facto reasonable.

MNC: The elements supported for the development of this cap are the suspensions, the brakes and the gearbox. Is it sufficient ?
C. G.: This is not the substantive issue. Let the promoter trust the FIM and the rules will be better and above all better applied. If endurance has an adapted regulation, well done and in no way called into question, it is because it is first designed and followed by the sports authorities. Which is not the case in World Superbike.

MNC: A maximum number of engines per driver and per season is also on the program. Wouldn’t it be better to limit engine modifications to the base? ?
C. G.: Yes for a maximum number of engines. Between 3 and 5 per season is realistic. As for the engine modifications, once again, let the power to the FIM to regulate them.

MNC: Starting next year, a category called EVO should make its appearance in WSBK. In Great Britain, a format also called EVO was validated in 2012 and includes in particular a single ECU without traction control and start aid. What do you think ?
C. G.: The EVO could be a good idea if all the players in the championship were subject to it. The problem is that the promoter is dependent on the will of manufacturers who take advantage of the World Superbike to showcase themselves when for me they should be present in MotoGP. As long as the WSBK is only an alternative to the GP, we will be at an impasse. Filling in the grid by establishing a two-tier championship will not give the discipline the content that should first be defined.

MNC: The manufacturers present in WSBK would have given their agreement to provide (for sale or for hire) a minimum of prepared motorcycles. Could your partner Yamaha Motor France convince the Japanese officials of Iwata to reinvest in the WSBK? ?
C. G.: A prepared motorcycle doesn’t make sense to me. The prices will remain exorbitant. We have to go back to the original spirit: a stock motorcycle, regulations to make changes and independent bodies (FIM) to control them. Then, to develop a regulation in harmony with the national championships. And finally, breathe new life into youth instead of reinventing MotoGP.

MNC: In general, does the FIM lack weight and / or independence from the other bodies that manage the WSBK? ?
C. G.: I have no answer, but one observation: in all your questions, you mention manufacturers, promoters, teams, but never sporting bodies … When you ask me about the French championship, it is quite the opposite.

MNC: The best teams in the current Supersport championship (PTR Honda, Mahi Kawasaki and Yakhnich Yamaha) are already eyeing the EVO category in Superbike. Should the GMT go through the Supersport box again to then integrate the Superbike? ?
C. G.: Let me first focus on the endurance world title. I am not considering another project until we achieve this goal. We got it in 2004 (read in particular and, Editor’s note), then we went to World Superbike, then we came back to endurance world. We owe it to ourselves to regain the title !

MNC: Pirelli is guaranteed to stay for the next two seasons. Here again, could your partnership with Michelin slow you down or stop you in hypothetical steps? ?
C. G.: We have already touched on this issue earlier. But I hope that the WSBK will soon do like endurance, both in terms of technical regulations and free competition between manufacturers….

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE – Photos DR

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