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Imola WSBK: ‘The season is far from over’ – Guintoli

Aprilia’s Sylvain Guintoli did not have the best race weekend after a blown motor put him out of the opening World Superbike race at Imola, and the Frenchman could only manage the final step of the podium in race two.

To make matters worse Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes has overtaken Guintoli at the top of the championship standings after the Brit clinched two race wins this afternoon, which has left the rider feeling disappointed. 

In race one the Leicestershire based lad was forced to retire early in the sixth lap, just as he was battling Sykes for second place. His withdrawal was forced by a technical problem with the engine that brought the Frenchman’s race to an early end.

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The second race followed the same script as the first with Englishman Sykes immediately taking the lead. This time it was team-mate Eugene Laverty's turn to raise the white flag due to a crash on the fifth lap while he was in third place. Guintoli, who was behind him, had no trouble holding GoldBet BMW team-mates Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies at bay, clinging onto third place until the end.

Guintoli is now six points behind Sykes in the Championship, but the rider is determined that he still has more to give, and is confident he can match the pace of the double race winner to keep his championship hopes alive.

“Race one was disappointing. Unfortunately at these levels these things can happen. In Race two I really pushed as hard as I could. When Eugene crashed I even tried to catch Rea who was in front of me, but I wasn't able to,” said Guintoli.

“ I'm not really happy with third place, but it was really the most we could get today. The season is still far from over. There are tracks like this one and Donington where we're weaker, but there are others where we will definitely be key players. The important thing is never to fall too far behind the leaders”.

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