WSBK – Interview Sylvain Guintoli: “my best years are now!” –

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Interview Sylvain Guintoli: "my best years are now!"

WSBK - Interview Sylvain Guintoli: & quot; my best years are now! & Quot; -

Ejected from the official Yamaha Pata team in 2017 for the benefit of the youngest Michael van den Mark, Sylvain Guintoli is actively looking for a good handlebar – from Aprilia? – to play the World Superbike title. Site was able to talk to the 2014 champion…

It’s official: Sylvain Guintoli finds himself without handlebars for next season. Our 2014 WSBK world champion (162 Superbike races on the clock, 41 podiums, 9 victories, 12 fastest laps in the race and 4 pole positions) will cede the handlebars of his factory R1 in 2017 to Michael van den Mark, 2014 WSSP champion (44 races in SBK, 8 podiums and 1 pole).

The reason for this replacement is clear: Yamaha is now keen to field young riders in World Superbike (read). ‘Guinters’ couldn’t wrestle: he’s 10 years older than ‘Magic Michael’, his former Honda teammate Ten Kate.

Site decided to come back to Sylvain on this point – a little painful, but everyone is getting older, even bikers – and on other much more exciting points … Interview.

Site: Hello Sylvain, first of all, how are you doing ?
Sylvain Guintoli: Very good, nickel. Finally nickel physically, because in terms of competition, it’s been a long time since Imola … I really itch to find the track, the competition !

I’m really itching to find the track, the competition

MNC: However, you turned to, riding a stock R1.
S. G .: Yes, it’s a completely road bike that I had and I took the opportunity to do a few laps on the circuit. I went to Mallory, Donington … I had a lot of fun by the way !

MNC: We saw that on your !
S. G .: (Laughs) Yeah, that’s cool. And then it allows you to get back into the rhythm a little. Even if it is not as demanding as racing motorcycles, it is an opportunity to have fun and get back on track.

MNC: In terms of feel and performance, how do the standard R1 and WSBK stand out? ?
S. G .: The race configuration is lighter, more responsive … The tires on the other hand are the same because I use Pirelli slicks. But of course, engine performance, suspensions and brakes differ. The Superbike motorcycle is a real racing motorcycle. That said, against the clock, there is not a huge difference. It was also nice to experience.

MNC: You measured the differences in lap times ?
S. G .: Yeah. At Silverstone we were about 7 seconds behind. And in Donington, about 6 seconds too.

MNC: Let’s talk about even more serious things: Van den Mark replaces you at Yamaha in 2017 and the official press release insists a lot on the will to make "room for the young" … They consider that you are too old for this bullshit ?
S. G .: (Laughs) Well listen, I don’t choose the manufacturers’ policies. You have a Rossi who is still very successful in MotoGP even though he is much older than me. You have a Biaggi who wins the WSBK title at 41, Checa was 40. Age is not a problem for me. After that it’s a question of philosophy. Personally, I would promote performance, but hey, I’m not a decision maker.

MNC: In terms of performance precisely, you feel at least as strong as in 2014, the year you won the WSBK title ?
S. G .: Yes, I really consider my best years in terms of riding to be now. Indeed, I made a small misstep with the injury to Imola and it took me a while to recover properly. The Aprilia years in Superbike allowed me to ride well, to learn a lot of things by working with a "Full Factory" team..

Age is not a problem for me

MNC: So you have some left in the handle !
S. G .: Largely! Before my crash this year, when the bike was in development, I was second in the Superpole standings and fifth in the championship well ahead of Lowes. With a decent motorcycle, I was in tune. But those absent are always wrong, especially in our profession … That’s how it is, it’s life: one shot you’re good, another less. But since I started riding, I have always managed to rebound well. I am therefore optimistic for the future. I focus on finding the best handlebars possible.

MNC: Your former Aprilia teammate Eugene Laverty put the glove on one. Seen from the outside, this seems like a good lead ?
S. G .: Milwaukee has effectively officially announced Laverty. On Aprilia’s side, there is a motorcycle that is efficient. And there are teams who have the will to exploit it.

MNC: However, the RSV4 has struggled against Kawasaki and Ducati lately … How do you explain it? ?
S. G .: When I rode on it in 2013 and 2014, the machine was a real factory bike, managed by the Superbike pole in Noale. Since then, the brand’s efforts have focused on MotoGP and the bike has not really progressed. They got homologation in 2015 with a very different motorcycle to comply with the new regulations. But it remains very competitive. Next year, Aprilia wants to relaunch the technical development of this bike..

Aprilia wants to relaunch the technical development of the RSV4

MNC: It’s a will that comes from Piaggio, senior officials ?
S. G .: Clearly. So there is a good chance that there will be a new manufacturer fighting for the title next year, alongside Kawasaki and Ducati..

MNC: Otherwise, we also saw you on the British Superbike event last weekend…
S. G .: Yes, I was invited by the championship and by Pirelli. I was also there in the event that I cannot find a competitive motorcycle in the World Superbike. However, there are not many competitive machines. I do not want to find myself in the WSBK … I already found myself in this situation when I started in World Superbike. But then I signed to Aprilia, I won the title. I achieved my ascent and I don’t want to pile on for a tough season.

In this sense, the BSB interests me because it is a very tough and contested championship, very popular here in England. At Cadwell there, it was really impressive, there were 65,000 spectators! Huge. It’s a great championship, it had been a long time since I had been there and wanted to take a look. I wanted to realize on the spot. So that’s another possibility … Actually, I want to go somewhere where I can win. Without it, it’s useless.

MNC: And then there may be a little taste of unfinished business too ?!
S. G .: Ah, it’s true that my participation in 2009 had started well. But I was the victim of a "freak accident" as they say here (the phew accident, Editor’s note): I got cut in two during the warm-up lap and my leg didn’t like it … It took a long, long, long time to recover! So go back to BSB, why not. Of course, there is a hierarchy in the championships. In British Superbike you are not going to be able to go for a world championship, but as a rider the most important thing is to know that you can fight for the victory. If not, while you have it in your blood, you are not happy, you cannot surpass yourself … and possibly you can hurt yourself because it is not easy to accept to take your pain patiently and not be able to be in front. This year, I got bitten, it didn’t do Imola, but now that I have recovered physically and I want to focus on a challenge that motivates me !

MNC: To conclude, there are still four rounds to go this season. You have specific goals in Superpole where you excelled at the start of the season, then in the race ?
S. G .: Not really. I want to come back, finish the championship properly, have fun again on the bike and…

I would like to do something special at Magny-Cours

MNC: … and it’s already a great program !
S. G .: Yeah, and you have to remember that I was five months without competition. I am aware that it is not going to be easy. But we have private practice sessions scheduled for next week at Magny-Cours, then the Lausitzring event. Two more "runs" so before Magny-Cours where I would like to do something special. Over the past four years, in eight races I have made seven podiums including two victories and I would like to shine in front of the French public. It is important to me, to be efficient in France.

MNC: We will follow you closely! Thank you for giving us this interview.
S. G .: Please, thank you. AT+

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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