MotoGP Exclusive interview with Sylvain Guintoli: “For the first time, in FP1, I did my time by getting back on Petrucci. I do not believe it ! »

After a great 8 Hours of Suzuka, leading during the first stint and finally fifth with Yukio Kagayama and Kazuki Watanabe on the Yoshimura Suzuki, Sylvain performed very good tests during the Czech Republic Grand Prix, followed by a race one little disappointing. Fifth in the first free session, third in the third in the wet, Guintoli highlighted his qualities as a driver and those of his Suzuki. Here's how he experienced this Brno GP.

Suzuki has just announced Joan Mir's withdrawal from the Austrian Grand Prix. Why don't you replace it, which would have made sense?

" Yes it's sure. It's a shame especially for Joan who suffered this heavy fall. So he needs time to recover. There, it was really too short. We didn't know if he could ride or not. For me, the last two months have been busy, so it was a bit short for replacement for this weekend. So Joan will have the time she needs to recover for Silverstone.”

Congratulations on your fifth fastest time in the first free practice session at the Czech Grand Prix. Such a level of performance, coming from a wildcard driver, is extremely rare. How did you manage to achieve such a good result?

“I was the first to be surprised (laugh). It was a good weekend, apart from the racing. The GP itself was difficult, I really didn't have a good feeling during the race. On the other hand, the tests and the whole weekend went really well. I was really close, in the mix.”

“Fifth in FP1, third in FP3 with the rain conditions, and even in qualifying, I was quite close. I made a small tactical error because I should have stopped to put a tire on at the end, but overall it was a very positive weekend. I was well into it, after the Suzuka 8 Hours where things went well. It was a good July for me.”

Fifteenth on the grid was also a good performance. You were in front of Oliveira, Bradl, Aleix Espargaró, Mir, Abraham, Syahrin, Rabat and Iannone. Were you satisfied with such a qualification?

“After the performances in FP1 and FP3, I wanted more! But that's normal (laugh). I wanted more and I would have really liked to progress to Q2. Let's say that there was an opportunity because with the conditions there was a real possibility of putting in a good performance, like Johann managed to do so by finding himself third on the grid.

“Overall, I was happy with my pace during practice. And then sensations, above all. I really enjoyed myself on the bike. Comfortable, relaxed, and it went fast.

“For the first time, in FP1 I did my time by going back to Petrucci. I do not believe it ! Normally… ".

“You see, even after so many years, it did me good, it made me happy. And the same in rainy conditions. At the start of FP3, I was with Dovizioso, and he was bothering me (laugh). I say that jokingly, it didn't bother me, but if you like I was in the mix during the tests, so it made me happy and it was also good for the test team with Tom*, the engineers Japanese from Suzuki, the mechanics. They are really dedicated to the test team, so when we do a wildcard and performances like that, they are satisfied. Even in Álex and Joan's teams, I could see that they were super happy. We had a good weekend.”

* Tom O'Kane, crew chief.

In the race, you were overtaken by the two Ducati Avintias of Tito Rabat and Karel Abraham (home race). Were their Desmosedici superior to your GSX-RR?

" No. During the race, I didn't have a good feeling at all. In terms of time, I was far from what I had done in practice. In terms of rhythm, I was also very far away. My feelings were not good at all, so afterwards - I don't really know where it came from - if you want the race was not at all a reflection of the work we did during the tests at the level chrono”.

“We tested these last two days (Editor’s note: Tuesday and Wednesday) in Brno and my pace on worn tires was much faster than in the race. Frankly, in the race I don't know what happened. I had zero grip, I was skating a lot and the times were slow.”

“My bike this year had a few evos, but was pretty close to those of Joan and Álex. So it was a high-performance bike, which we saw during testing.”  

Then you didn't take part in the Monday tests, you drove on Tuesday and Wednesday, how did these tests go?

“On Monday, Joan and álex rode with my bikes, and we had two days of private tests afterwards. It's been a good two days. We continued with our program and it went well. We had good weather, it was good, impeccable.”

How do you see the second half of the season for the Suzuki Ecstar team?

“I think it’s going to be a great end to the season. There are going to be a lot of circuits where in retrospect the Suzuki worked well, so I hope it continues as it has been since the start of the year. I want podiums, and if possible another victory. We expect good performances.”

Video: Sylvain then second in FP1 in Brno!

Photos © Suzuki Racing