Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Jack Valentine confirms Sylvain Guintoli for 2009

Rizla Suzuki team manager Jack Valentine confirmed to MCN this afternoon that Sylvain Guintoli has officially signed to ride for his squad next year.
 
Speaking exclusively to MCN, Valentine had this to say: “Sylvain has now signed to ride for Suzuki in British Superbikes next year.

“I’ve not met him yet, but I’ve spoke to him regularly no the phone and he appears professional and very focussed on the job in hand.
 
“Sylvain sees the move as a step back, but he knows he needs it in order to move forward to the World Superbike team.

“He’s not interested in anything financially; he just wants to go and win races.”
 
When asked what he thought of Guintoli as a rider, Valentine had this to say: “I’ve watched him a lot, I see him as a quality rider and we’ve now got an intensive testing programme planned for him”.
 
Valentine also confirmed to MCN that the Rizla Suzuki squad will again have full factory backing for 2009.