WSBK – WSBK: Guintoli will be back on his R1 soon … and after? – Champion World Superbike looking for good handlebars

WSBK: Guintoli soon back on his R1 … and after ?

WSBK - WSBK: Guintoli will be back on his R1 soon ... and after? - Champion World Superbike looking for good handlebars

Video in support, Sylvain Guintoli proves that he had fun on R1M ” stock ” at Donington Park. On the World Superbike R1, which he will meet in six weeks at the Lausitzring, the 2014 world champion is a little less happy. He explains himself…

Champion World Superbike looking for good handlebars

At the end of last week, Sylvain Guintoli published on his official YouTube channel the video of a tour of Donington Park, filmed on an on-board camera on the occasion of a private driving day: obviously, the French pilot is having fun on this R1M as standard (see video on next page).

On his R1 prepared by the Yamaha Pata Crescent team for the World Superbike, the 2014 world champion also "had a blast" … But in a bad sense: victim of a heavy high-side during the, Sylvain has not raced since the end of April (read).

Three months after his big fall, "I am much better"says the Yamaha rider to WorldSBK."The injuries are 100% cleared and I’m ready to hit the track again. The next race is in September and I can’t wait to get back to the starting grid".

Replaced by Cameron Beaubier then Niccolo Canepa, "Guinters" will find his official Yamaha n ° 50 on Friday September 16 in the morning, for the first free practice session of the German race back in the, on the Lausitzring circuit.

"During the first part of the season, our results have been constant"Sylvain recalls."I showed that the bike was always fast during qualifying (2nd in the Tissot-Superpole classification until Imola), but we encountered some limits to really be so over the duration of a race.".

After arriving (2,439 seconds from the winner!), Our champion subsequently failed to return to the Top 5 in the race. In 16 races, his teammate Alex Lowes made it only twice: in the wet at and in the dry at .

"Since my first tests last November, I keep saying that the bike has a very good base frame.", Sylvain analyzes."We just lack speed and there is still a lot of work to do on the electronic part, a point on which Ducati and Kawasaki are well ahead.".

However, the injury of the "Frenchie" and that – a little shorter and penalizing – of his teammate did not simplify the main task of their English team: to adjust the Magneti Marelli electronics, whose control unit is installed on all motorcycles from the World Superbike field since last year.

Guintoli wants to beat the British again

At the start of the season, Guintoli demonstrated that the R1 did not lack speed on a flying lap … and on a clear track during the Superpole races! This summer, Lowes, along with Pol Espargaro and Katsuyuki Nakasuga, proved that the R1 can also win in endurance racing … !

For the second consecutive year, Yamaha has imposed its Superbike model at the Suzuka 8 Hours (read. "The level and regulations of the WorldSBK Championship are not the same, Guintoli observes, however. "Likewise, it should be noted that the Yamaha team which participated in the Suzuka 8H was directly supported by Japan.".

Half-heartedly, the French driver therefore declares that he would appreciate more support from the Blues of Iwata in the WSBK project … at the height, for example, of that of the Greens of Akashi towards their "Ninjas" Rea and Sykes? Let us remember in passing that unlike Yamaha, Honda and Ducati, Kawasaki does not compete in MotoGP…

"Guinters" is online

To find a better handlebars in 2017, Sylvain Guintoli can count on his great speed … but also on the extreme sympathy he arouses among his fans, by answering the majority of their questions asked on his official Facebook page..

What tire choices on this or that circuit, do you take the time to look at the speed on your computer, which bike do you train with, do you need to deactivate the ABS when you attack on your R1M? .. The answers of the world champion are always clear and precise. The big name !

Will Yamaha release sufficient budgets and free the engineers necessary for the successful development of the R1 in World Superbike? Sylvain Guintoli’s future depends on it. "My goal for next season is to find a team and a machine that will allow me to win", says the pilot."I won the title in 2014 and my driving level has not dropped. I feel strong", continues our compatriot.

Exiled for many years in England – where his wife is from – our "Guinters" want to defend their – our! – colors in World Superbike. "The championship has been dominated by the British for two years and I want to bring the colors of France back to the podium and to victory"Sylvain notes.

"I hope to be able to shake up the domination of the English pilots (and to date, Editor’s note!) and Kawasaki, and for that I need a team and a machine that are efficient", concludes Mister Guintoli…

"I explore all the possibilities"

However, a good handlebar does not run – never, nowhere – the paddocks! In World Superbike, BMW does not wish to get officially involved and supports private teams. The Ducati and Kawasaki factories have already designated their duets for 2017 – even 2018 – with Rea and Sykes on one side, Davies and Melandri on the other. Finally, Honda Ten Kate selected Bradl to race alongside Hayden…

At Yamaha, Van der Mark would have already put the gloves on an official R1 … If Guintoli does not get – does not hold back? – not the second, what other track is looming in front of him: that of an Aprilia prepared by a private team and / or the Noale factory ?

"I explore all the possibilities", answers Sylvain questioned by Site without going into details. To know the future of our, only one solution: stay connected to MNC !

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