In the latest instalment to come from his work on the set of MotoGP Tonight in Stratford Jack Giordmaina talks to the newly-crowned World Superbike Champion…
Sylvain Guintoli has described his World Superbike Championship triumph as a ‘great feeling’ after becoming the first Frenchman in 24 years to take the crown.
The 32-year-old Aprilia rider’s double victory at the season finale in Qatar saw him beat defending champion and title rival Tom Sykes to secure his first career world championship, overcoming a 44-point deficit with only three rounds remaining.
“It was a great feeling when I realised that I was champion,” he said. “I really can’t put my emotions into words when thinking about it, but it was a very special day. It was even better that I was surrounded by my family and friends.”
Residing in Leicester with his English wife Caroline and their four children, Guintoli has become something of an adopted Brit. With his distinctive French-Leicestershire accent he also touched on the stress going into the final round of the championship as he tried to channel his nerves into positive energy.
“There was so much stress going into these final two races knowing that I could become World Superbike Champion. I knew I had to just think of them as being standard races in which I would just go out there and do my best to win.”
With Aprilia ceasing their World Superbike programme, Guintoli will begin the defence of his title next season with the Pata Honda team alongside Dutch team-mate Michael van der Mark.