Alice Ducati MotoGP rider Sylvain Guintoli will replace Tom Sykes in the Rizla Suzuki squad for the 2009 British Superbike season and it now remains to be seen who will be his team-mate.
Guintoli, who was in the frame for the second Yamaha WSB seat alongside Sykes, has been in talks with Rizla boss Paul Denning and the Frenchman agreed terms with the team at last weekend’s Motegi MotoGP race.
MotoGP team Alice had already lost its number one rider Toni Elias to Gresini Honda, so swept Guintoli aside and brought in Ducati test rider Nicco Caneppa and KTM 250GP star Mikka Kallio. Guintoli then tested the Santander Yamaha World Superbike at Vallelunga, but lost out to AMA star Ben Spies.