SBK, Guintoli: "increasingly fast!"

After two days of testing, the holidays are already just a memory. At the German track of the Lausitzring, the WorldSBK Pata Yamaha team has completed key development work on its bikes, with its two riders Alex Lowes and Sylvain Guintoli committed to putting their factory R1s, still far from the desired results, to the test.

A new frame enclosing an evolved engine and many fast laps: 133 for the Brit and 139 for the Frenchman, meaning both have practically completed race distance multiplied by seven. A convincing test for the bike and a useful one for the riders, with Lowes back on board after his win at the Suzuka 8 Hours and Guintoli, returning after suffering a serious accident in April.

Lowes carried out a 21-lap race simulation, maintaining interesting speed and pace: “We've had two productive days here in Germany; as well as developing our technical package, we've added some new elements to the R1, looking for the ideal set-up, because this is a difficult track, with many fast changes of direction and an irregular surface. Overall, the track is great, but tough”.

The Brit seems very pleased with the work completed and is already thinking about the next test: “my feeling with the bike has improved, I'm pleased; at the start of September we'll go to Magny-Cours in France for yet another test and I'll try again to be faster, before the next two German races taking place at the Lausitzring”.

Guintoli, after yesterday's good feelings, worked hard on his R1 today and, across the two days of testing, the Frenchman rode for approximately six hours in total. Following his long break due to injury, Sylvain enjoyed a "bike binge”, with interesting results: “today I've ridden a lot more than yesterday, so my work was more intense and very useful. As well as understanding whether I can still ride well, I've regained confidence also with my team, and it's been great, as well as very important”.

The Frenchman hadn't ridden the R1 since the Imola tests at the end of April and he has been quick to note the differences: “the bike has changed since the last time I rode it - observes Guintoli- the chassis is different, as are the settings; we've all worked together to understand the reactions to each change and our aim is to get back to our best possible speed. At the next test at Magny-Cours I'll try to be even quicker”.