The challenge was not easy to take on but we are not World Champion by chance. Sylvain Guintoli, crowned in 2014 in Superbike, found a MotoGP left fallow in 2011. An eternity at this level of competition while he had to assume the status of an official Suzuki rider in place of the injured Alex Rins. And alongside the fiery Andrea Iannone please. All at Grand Prix of France, or in front of his audience! Result ? A point scored in the championship.
A result that could not be more honorable, especially since this fifteenth final position is only 18 seconds behind seasoned leader Joe the Maniac. Sylvain Guintoli therefore held his place during a meeting where he had to face the rain before riding on a dry track. We dream of something simpler when it comes to discovering a Grand Prix machine!
It is with the legitimate feeling of a job well done that the Drômois, now converted to BSB, commented on his weekend at Le Mans: “ It's a nice feeling to score a point in my national race. We didn't have much time to adapt to the dry track, but we did a good job considering the circumstances. I really enjoyed riding the GSX-RR on the Bugatti. The audience was fantastic. I don't end up that far from Andrea which is positive. I also wanted to finish a minute behind the winner, and I almost got there ».
A performance which ensures him a continuation for the Italian Grand Prix whichalex rins must also cross out his calendar due to a slow convalescence: “ we will continue to adapt the bike to my style but I love working with this team and racing on the Suzuki. It's like a waking dream ».
After Mugello will follow a week after Catalonia. The rest of the Frenchman's experience will depend on the abilities of Kidneys injured wrist to get back to business.
#FrenchGP Le Mans: MotoGP ranking
1. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 43m 29.793s
2. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
43m 32.927s
3. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 43m 37.510s
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 43m 41.016s
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 43m 43.312s
6. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
43m 53.795s
7. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
43m 55.526s
8. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 44m 2.396s
9. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 44m 15.577s
10. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
44m 18.125s
11. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 44m 19.829s
12. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 44m 22.454s
13. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 44m 22.972s
14. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
44m 25.225s
15.
Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 44m 36.671s
Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)
DNF
Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)
DNF
Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) DNF
Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17)
DNF
Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16)
DNF
Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) DNF
Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16)
DNF
Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) DNF
