Guintoli expects tough challenge
Added on Monday, March 9th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Guintoli expects tough challenge
Sylvain Guintoli is not expecting an easy ride in the 2009 British Superbike Championship, claiming that the BSB competitors are as capable as their World Superbikes counterparts.
The Frenchman begins his career in the British national championship next month with Crescent Suzuki after making the step down from MotoGP last season but the former Alice Ducati rider believes that the talent in BSB provides him with a stern challenge for 2009.
“I don’t see it as a step down,” he said. “MotoGP is the biggest championship in the world, but the BSB challenge is just what I needed: I wanted a change.
“I feel really happy to be a part of this. The chances of me winning the title are great as well.
“Maybe I’ll move up to WSB next year – it could be good.”
Guintoli has even gone on to suggest that the riding talent is just as good in BSB as it is on the world stage, after several riders made the move to WSB this season and others impressed last year with wildcard rides.
“(The buzz surrounding) it is weird because it’s a national championship,” he continued. “The level of teams and bikes are really good as well. It is a parallel championship to the WSB.
“A lot of UK people follow BSB, everyone knows about it.
“I used to watch it last year. I’ve never been to watch a race because I hate going to meetings when I’m not racing! But last year I used to watch the WSB and BSB all the time on television.
“The BSB guys who had wildcards into WSB last season were really good. Some of those that moved up from BSB last year have proven they are good enough for WSB. Leon Haslam got a podium in the first race at Phillip Island and they all had their moments.”
The Crescent Suzuki will also be the third bike from different manufacturers that Guintoli has ridden in the past three years, having had seasons with satellite Yamaha and Ducati teams in the past but the 27-year-old doesn’t see that as a problem.
“The bikes of different manufacturers always contain slight differences in character; this is due to how they build the bike,” he said.
“It is not such a big problem. The main difference is the tyres, how to work them and make them last the race.
“The superbike moves a lot more than the MotoGP bikes, but then the Ducati had a fair bit of movement last year!
“Changing teams doesn’t really matter. Over the years it makes you more adaptable. If I had been with the same team all the time I would be a bit lost, but now I feel comfortable.”
