Guintoli's podium a boost for privateer team and rider
After a strong mid-season and a top six finish in the 2011 campaign for Sylvain Guintoli the indicators were good that he would have another strong year in SBK racing in 2012. At the first round he certainly showed all his star quality in qualifying and race conditions, as the Team Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati rider was a top five man on the grid and then a podium finisher in race one.
Race two ended in a fall, without injury for the French star, but by then he had already realised that running a privateer Ducati once again was a good option for him, especially now he has had a season to get used to machine and team. He may have had to work hard for his top three in race one in Australia, but it was just reward for a rider who started his 2011 Phillip Island race weekend in great form, but then suffered injuries that ruined the early part of his first twin cylinder season.
Said Guintoli after race one in Australia, "I was sliding all over the place near the end and I really enjoyed that first race. It feels really good to be on the podium. After what happened to me here last year, this is the best reward I could get. It was hard work, but I'm very happy. My team has done such a great job."
Guintoli's race engineer, Luca Ferraccioli, said of his rider's race one performance, "Sylvain had a fantastic first race, getting on the podium after a battle elbow to elbow with first Tom Sykes and then Melandri was the best way to start the new season, especially considering the bad crash he had here last year."
Guintoli now has the chance to go for more podiums at Imola in round two, as he strives for a season in the spotlight with his Czech-based privateer team. He now has four podiums in SBK racing, all on Ducatis, and all from starting spots just off the front row after qualifying and Superpole.
