VOL. 54 ISSUE 18 MAY 9, 2017 P55
GUINTOLI TO MAKE
MOTOGP RETURN
S
ylvain Guintoli will make an unexpected
MotoGP return at his home GP at Le
Mans in a fortnight, jumping off his Suzuki
BSB Superbike to take over from the recu-
perating Alex Rins on the factory team.
The French former WorldSBK Cham-
pion will run at least one GP on the fac-
tory team, reprising his two seasons in
2007 and 2008, with a best of fourth on a
Yamaha, and 13th overall the next year on
a Ducati.
Guintoli (34) will have a chance to get
acquainted with the GSX-RR in official
tests at Jerez on Tuesday.
Team rookie-regular Alex Rins missed
his first home
GP of the year,
and will be out
for two or three
more races,
after sustaining a double wrist fracture in
practice in Texas. The 21-year-old Span-
iard, a former Moto3 and Moto2 title
contender, broke both tibia and fibula, and
flew home where the bones were repaired
with titanium plates and screws.
His place at Jerez was taken by factory
tester Takuya Tsuda, who was already on
hand, to run in the official post-race tests.
Michael Scott
KENT GETS A LIFELINE
A
fortnight after unexpectedly splitting with his
Moto2 team in unhappy circumstances, 2015
Moto3 World Champion Danny Kent has been thrown
a career lifeline, with a test and then a wildcard ride
with the title-winning Ajo Moto3 squad.
Kent cited "irreconcilable differences" after aban-
doning his Suter Moto2 in the Kiefer garage midway
through the COTA MotoGP.
The English rider had campaigned a Kalex chassis
in Leopard colors last season, but did not sparkle,
finishing 22nd overall with just three top-10 finishes.
His Austin walkout looked like career suicide, but the offer of a test and a wildcard
race on the Red Bull KTM contradict that. The team took a dominant title last year with
Brad Binder, but having had a disappointing start to 2017 with new rider Niccolo Antonelli
scoring nine points in three races, and last year's strong rookie Bo Bendsneyder none.
Kent's trademark at the start of his title year of 2015 was dominant wins. If nothing
else, a good result at Le Mans will sharpen the wits of the team regulars.
But team owner Aki Ajo insisted there is no hidden agenda. "The performance of the
KTM has not been what we expected at the early races, and we need to work. Danny is
one of the best riders for testing purpose—but there is not any drama."
Michael Scott
Nearly a
decade
after his
last MotoGP
race, Sylvain
Guintoli is
back for a
couple of
outings on
the factory
Suzuki.
Danny Kent's
been given
another
chance to
show what
he can do in
Moto3.
