Former World Superbike Champion Sylvain Guintoli has targeted a competitive ride in the series next year after parting company with the factory Pata Yamaha squad but realises he his fast running out of race-winning options.
The England-based Frenchman suffered a big crash at Imola in May and only got back on his R1 at the recent Lausitzring test. He will finish the season with the Crescent-run team but in the meantime is looking for something to do in 2017 and make a return to British Superbikes.
“At the minute, there is nothing decided. I had a one-year contract with Yamaha. I’m looking at options right now but nothing is decided. My biggest wish is to stay in World Superbike and have a competitive ride. If I can’t get a competitive ride, we’ll see, but that is what I am working on,” he said.
“You have to take it step-by-step. That is my first goal. There are still a few competitive bikes available, but not many. There are a lot of British riders in this championship; I think it’s good to have a lot of different nations at the front, so I could do with a good bike. It would be good for the championship.”
“I am riding well. Since I won the title I have ridden well, including last year with some tough competition from my team-mate Mikey (van der Mark), but I still beat him in the championship. This year I was riding really well until the accident, so by the end of this year I hope to take things back to where I left them and rebuild my speed. For next year I really, really would like to have a competitive bike so I can be at the front, dicing with the Kawasakis and Ducatis.”