MotoGP Exclusive interview with Sylvain Guintoli (part 2) “Even beyond the performance and the results, the Suzuki is really well balanced”

After describing to us in detail the situation of the Suzuki team at the end of the 2018 season, Sylvain discussed in the first part of his interview the improvement work that had been carried out during the last tests which took place in Japan, Valencia and Jerez, as well as the exciting arrival of the young Joan Mir. Here he tells us about the rest of the development work, the new chassis and the direction that the tests intended to improve the GSX-RR will take.

“Advancing the GSX-RR is a team effort, providing plenty of development in all aspects. It's clear that for me it's pleasing to know that my work with them and the information I gave them helped the bike progress.

“As far as recognition goes, it’s great to see the bike well up front like that in the race and during testing. I regularly see the pilots get off the machine with a smile. It made me happy to see at the end of the season thatAlex Rins was fast in the rain as well as in the dry. When Joan Mir tried the bike for the first time, I was with him. I introduced him when he discovered the motorbike… on the other hand it didn't take long for him to ride faster than me (laugh). He is just 21 years old and when he got on the bike he immediately felt at ease. The Suzuki is efficient and great to ride.

“One of the first comments he made to us was that the bike ran really well even though the GSX-RR is significantly heavier than his Moto2 from last year. There is a lot more power. He was immediately delighted with the feeling he had on the bike, so it's nice to have comments like that.

“Every time I get on this bike, it’s really a great pleasure to ride it. Even beyond the performance and the results, it is a motorcycle that is really well balanced. »

According to the Suzuki team manager Davide Brivio, in Jerez last week Alex Rins used an aluminum chassis, while you tested a carbon fiber-based chassis. Brivio also explained the project to build an aluminum chassis with the same rigidity as the carbon chassis. Did this way of proceeding allow you to obtain a satisfactory result?

“In Jerez, we tested different configurations again. Afterwards, it is also necessary to take into account the preferences of the pilots. We have chassis, but also engines, which react in different ways. It is very interesting to be able to have several configurations in this way.

“The aluminum chassis is a chassis that I used several times during testing sessions, and also at Motegi when I competed in the Japanese Grand Prix as a wild card. We have to be able to find the combination that suits him best for each driver. »

Especially since in 2019 each Suzuki rider will be able to have one or more chassis, while there is (regulated) only one type of engine for everyone?

“Yes, as long as the engine fits and can be fixed in the chassis, you can have as much chassis as you want. A driver can decide to change chassis during the season because it is not set in stone. You just have to be able to mount the engine in it. The choice of engine can also affect the choice of chassis, for example. »

After the second day in Jerez, you said: “ we accomplished a lot during these tests and, as we saw in 2018, the work of testing is really paying off ". In 2019, with the absence of a dealership for Suzuki, will the tests take a different direction since there will no longer be an engine to develop during the season?

“No, I don’t think so because there will always be an engine to develop. Instead of working in the short term, we are actually going to work for 2020. The testing and development of the engine and chassis never stops because things evolve very quickly from one year to the next. The seasons pass very quickly. We will soon work directly on development for 2020. In terms of testing, there is no difference at that level. »

Video below: Sylvain talks about his Catalan GP this year as a wild card (and in English) (Suzuki video)

Video below: Joan Mir presents her new Suzuki GSX-RR (in English)

 

Photos © Suzuki