Sylvain Guintoli, test rider of the Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP team, recently published videos showing and explaining in detail what we could do with a production motorcycle on a speed circuit.
Having greatly appreciated this popularization work, we contacted the French pilot who lives in Great Britain to learn more about this initiative, then, in a second part, to find out about his job as a test pilot.
Many thanks to him for interrupting his family activities to answer our questions!
Hello Sylvain. First of all, congratulations for the videos that you are publishing at the moment because we find it very interesting that a MotoGP rider addresses the general public to explain what we can do with a production motorcycle. We hope that you will continue in this direction…
Sylvain Guintoli : " thank you that's nice ! I actually really like it. I started this a bit for fun and to do something different, and I was surprised by the response from the public: it's working really well, so yes, I'll definitely continue. »
So the question everyone is asking is when these videos were filmed, because you are publishing them at a time when all of France is in lockdown... How is it going in the United Kingdom?
“(Laughs) actually, I made them just before confinement. In England, we are a little behind Italy, Spain and France, so the government only ordered confinement a week ago, but as a precaution, as I had a lot of feed- back of the team in Italy, I have been in confinement for two weeks, here with my family. The videos were filmed just before we decided not to go out anymore. »
Do you have any left in stock, or was this the last one?
“No, I still have a few. Let's say I had done four circuits, Donington, Mallory Park, Oulton Park and Cadwell Park, but there are also topics I would like to cover that don't need to be filmed on the circuits. The idea is to draw parallels between our world of racing and MotoGP with what exists for pilots and bikers who do Track Days with production motorcycles. Until now, there haven't been many parallels, so I find it interesting to explore this, because there is a lot to say, whether in terms of machines or technique. The world of MotoGP is not that far apart, and I think it's interesting to make this kind of connection. So I still have a few videos that are almost ready, including one available in French. »
For the biker, your words are caviar, because they are indisputable in view of your experience…
“Let's say that it's my job to give feedback on elements like the fork or the tires, so for me it's great to be able to share a little bit of my experience, even if it's necessarily different from what I we do in MotoGP because there are still elements that are interesting. I first try to show what is important, such as tire pressure, because as a safety element it is super important and very simple to do. However, I still see guys who ride on the track with the same pressures as for the road or pressures that are too high. It is therefore useful to be able to pass on this kind of information because they will be able to use it when we can return to the circuits. »
Concretely, do you have a team with you to shoot and edit these videos?
“No, I practically do everything!” For the first video, I had someone with me to do the exterior footage on the road and some footage from the side of the track. But otherwise, no, it's me because it is basically a personal and non-commercial initiative. I try to have good sound and image quality, but it remains a personal job because on the one hand I want to control the messages that I transmit, and on the other hand I find that it is important to keep this side personal and to get a little into my privacy. So practically, almost 100%, it's me who does everything, including editing and subtitles. »
Speaking of video, did you watch the first virtual race online?
" Yes ! It's fun to see them play, but hey, it doesn't replace the Grands Prix (laughs)! »
On a daily basis, how are you experiencing confinement and how do you keep in shape?
“Here, we still have the right to go cycling, as long as we are not in a group, which is normal. You can also run individually. But anyway, I have my five kids in the house, and that keeps you in good shape (laughs)! »
At the team level, do you receive information?
“Yes, we are keeping ourselves informed because we have a test program and we are waiting to see when and where we will be able to ride. We are therefore in contact all the time, to follow developments with Italy and Japan. We must continue to do what is correct, which is to isolate ourselves and take as few risks as possible, so it is true that at the moment, things seem to be blocked everywhere. We had a complete testing program, but everything was turned upside down, like the races, starting with the cancellation of the test in Jerez. So for the moment, whether in terms of races or tests, everyone is on hold and nothing is defined yet. We don't know any more than the others, but let's hope that the situation changes in the coming weeks, and we will advise at that time. »
Thank you Sylvain!
To be continued with a typical day as a MotoGP test rider…
In the meantime, check out Sylvain Guintoli’s Youtube channel!
*
*
*
* 
* 
