MotoGP Test Portimão Sylvain Guintoli: “A fantastic track” for the riders and good for the Suzukis...

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve will host the finale of the 2020 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship season. In order to collect some data and experience the new track a bit, a two-day test of the site will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, of which you have all the details here.

The factories are represented by Jorge Lorenzo (yamaha), Michele Pirro (Dozens), Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki), Dani Pedrosa (KTM), Stefan bradl (Honda) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia). On Wednesday, a number of current MotoGP™ riders will also be out on track on road machines to familiarize themselves with the venue. The drivers of Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aleix Espargaró and his teammate Bradley Smith, will also carry out tests on Wednesday.

The drivers on the production machines on the first day:
Joan Mir and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar)
Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)
Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati team)
Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing)
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu)
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3)
Brad Binder and Pol Espargaró (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Johann Zarco and Tito Rabat (Esponsorama Racing)
Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)

But before hitting the track today, the test drivers sat down last night to answer a few questions from the media during a press conference. Sylvain Guintoli, who knows the track well, gave some details about what awaited him, but also about the Suzuki…

Sylvain Guintoli : " It's a great circuit here, I've been there a few times with WorldSBK and it's one of the best circuits, really, really nice. I can't wait to experience the new track surface because that was the only problem before, it was quite bumpy. Now I hope it's better, it's a great track and I think it will be a good track for us with smooth lines. I think the riders will have a lot of fun here, because it's like a roller coaster. It's very pleasant to drive, there are a lot of blind spots, it's a fast and very interesting track, very technical. »
« It's difficult to predict MotoGP this year! It's amazing so far, and the Suzukis are doing great! Álex was unfortunately seriously injured and was very brave at the start of the season, but it took him a while to get back on his feet, and Joan is now a real force in the Championship. For us, things are going really well. It would be great to get a win, but I think it's coming soon. So it's a very exciting time because it's so close: Everyone can have a chance, and I think it's going to be an exciting end to the season. »
« I think the Suzuki is a very, very good bike this year. It was already good, but this year, with the new chassis and the new engine, we took another step forward. The bike is now very good at many different circuits, even in Austria which on paper was supposed to be the worst circuit, it was very good there, it performed very well. With all or nothing trajectories we have a slight deficit in engine power, so when we use high gears we have a slight disadvantage and we understand that, but the bike has qualities that can shine, and, this year, the new tire seems to fit it really well. All that together, plus Álex and Joan who are also very strong drivers, it's really exciting for us. The bike looks great and not just in photos! On the track she is really fast. »