The kick-off of the 2022 MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship season is around the corner and among the riders on the grid, there is Christophe Ponsson. The Frenchman will once again ride for the Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha team led by his sister Ophelie. For 2022, the objective for both siblings is clear: to reach the top 10 as often as possible. Christophe was twice in the top ten last year and he plans to continue in the same way.

How would you sum up Gil Motor Sport’s first season in WorldSBK?

Christophe Ponsson: “We can say that it has been a roller coaster! I had barely trained during the preseason, and I got on the bike in March. I crashed and hurt myself a little bit and I lost a few weeks. As a result, the season did not start as it should have been. We made the choice to change our technical team mid-season and took everything under control from the Czech Round. The new crew chief who joined us at Most worked on the basics, we adjusted our settings gradually and little by little I recovered my confidence in me and in the bike. The results have kept improving, with many points scored in the second half of the season including two top 10s.”

During the winter, there were some changes in the team organisation with the new team manager Ophelie Ponsson. Can you explain the reasons behind this?

Ophelie Ponsson: “I went to Jerez and Portimao to follow Christophe in two races and it happened at the time of the organisation of the overseas events, which require time and preparation. I wanted to help, so I finally took this role naturally. I officially took the position of team manager for the 2022 season after travelling to Indonesia in that role. It was a test, because overseas travels are not easy to organise and manage, especially in this period of pandemic. A bad organisation can affect the balance of a team. In the end, everything worked very well, both in terms of planning and results. It was the best weekend of the season for the whole team, so we decided to continue like this for 2022.”

We often say, “a year to learn, a year to win”. What are your goals for 2022?

Ophelie: “The goal is to be in the top 10 as much as possible. There are about 15 official bikes on the grid, our goal is to be able to fight against official teams and riders. We will continue to work hard, because it is not impossible.”

Christophe: “I’ve also set that goal. There are 24 riders in the field and there are a lot of official machines. Taking into account our progress over the second half of last season, it would be stupid to only aim for the points… If I finish 15^th twice at MotorLand, I would be disappointed. Even though it might not be the Yamaha’s playground, I’m not going there for that kind of result and I want to finish in the top 10 as soon as possible. There are a lot of people there, it’s true, but I’m putting all the chances on my side to achieve that. Of course, my dream would be to win a race, to finish on the podium… but you have to keep your feet on the ground, we are a private team, but I really feel that right now is when everything is going for the best for me and my career.”

In terms of support, what kind of relationship does the team have with Yamaha?

Ophelie: “We have a good relationship with Andrea Dosoli and this year the synergy with the factory will be stronger than last year. When you are a private team, the challenges during a season are also to gain the trust of the manufacturer you are representing. For 2022 this can only go in the right direction.”

Christophe: “At the end of the second race at Most, Andrea Dosoli came to congratulate us for carrying on despite the changes in the team in the middle of the season. After that, the results started to come in and that only strengthens Yamaha’s confidence in us. Ophélie has only been manager for a short time, but the team already has a different organisation and different goals thanks to her work, and that too is a positive point that plays on the confidence.”

By the way, where you were able to test some new parts in a test at Portimao?

Christophe: “Yes, I was able to test some new fairings that the official team and the GRT already had at the start of last season and clearly the difference is huge. We have to bridge the gap little by little, but it’s coming! I improved my personal best time at Portimao with my old bike and also with my new parts, so it’s positive for the future!”

Randy De Puniet, former MotoGP™ and WorldSBK rider, will again be the coach this year. What has been his contribution so far?

Christophe: “Due to date clashes, he could only support me from the Navarra Round, but I had already contacted him after the last test before the first Round in Aragon. In the four Rounds he came to, he helped me both on and off the track. He gave me advice on how to prepare myself, to have confidence in myself and to be calmer. He helped me not to get too upset when something goes wrong. I love to analyse data and he helped me take a step back from that. He opened my eyes on my riding style and he brought me a lot in terms of human and mental sides. It was very positive, and we will continue this year. He will be with me at the Estoril test and in five rounds. If there were no date clashes, I know he would have been there at all rounds.”

What about the future of the team, a second seat or maybe a bike in WorldSSP or WorldSSP300?

Ophelie: “We’re focused on our year, so we’re not thinking about the future and next seasons yet. A bike in another class is not something we have considered yet. However, a second seat in WorldSBK is a possibility, maybe not in 2023, but in the future…”

Follow all the action from WorldSBK in 2022 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!