Sylvain Guintoli: I'm like wine, I get better with time

Sylvain Guintoli will have the tough job of replacing Max Biaggi in Aprilia’s superbike team this season, but the French rider is ready to take on the task and try to defend the heritage that Biaggi left behind at the end of 2012: both riders and manufacturers titles.

Interviewed at the Aprilia’s 2013 WSBK team launch in Milan, the 30-year-old Guintoli was asked several questions by one of the guys from Motoblog.it and here are some of the Q&A:

Sylvain how does it feel to be back with Aprilia? (he rode an Aprilia in the 250cc class from 2001 to 2006)

“It’s an honour to ride the world championship bike, this is the most important occasion in my racing career. A lot of people have asked me if I’m under a lot of pressure, but the fact that I want to do well and prove my worth in the World Superbikes is far greater than any pressure. I’m very happy to ride the RSV4 in maybe what is my best season. I’m a rider with experience although I’m still young. I think that this chance comes at the best time for me, I think I’m like a good French wine, the more time passes the more I improve. And finally it is time to drink this wine.

Talking about improving with age … Max Biaggi rode until he was 40
That was a great wine!

How is the RSV4?

What surprised me most about the RSV4 is that it felt immediately natural to ride. Straightaway I felt “at home”, despite having ridden bikes with very different features in the past. The RSV4 is fast, but more important it offers all the adjustments to enable it to be adapted to my riding style. This bike is truly amazing to ride, as well as the team that is behind it. More importantly I think the fact that riding the Aprilia makes you smile. I think that in Australia it will already give me great satisfaction.

How’s your feel with the team?

I’m pleased regarding the great confidence between me and the Aprilia team: each team member knows what to do without even needing to speak. For a rider it’s reassuring to see efficiency and competence in the garage, and it allows you to focus your attention on riding. Aligi is a crewchief that’s able to “translate” into technical changes every my single sensation. Working with this team I can see why they’ve won so much!

Goals for 2013?

Making predictions is difficult, and I say this because of last season, where the championship was decided in the last race by just a half point. I aim to do well in 2013 and last year I won three races, and my first goal is to beat this personal record.

from TWOWHEELSBLOG