MotoGP: Sylvain Guintoli eyes style change to suit Ducati

French rider Sylvain Guintoli believes he will have to make changes to his riding style to suit Ducati’s GP8 machine when he returns to action in Sepang on January 22, 2007.

Sylvain Guintoli has made only one winter testing appearance so far when he rode a 2007 Ducati machine in Valencia at the beginning of November 2007.

The new d’Antin Ducati rider, who campaigned a Yamaha YZR-M1 in his rookie premier class campaign in 2007, told MCN: “I think I will have to change my style.

“The bike needs a different style and I’m starting to understand why Casey (Stoner) went so fast this year because he has got the natural riding style for this bike.

“You have to ride it like a 250 and learn to pick the bike up quickly on the exit of the corner and accelerate. That’s exactly what he does.

“I liked the handling and the engine of the bike I rode in Valencia. It is very different but the general feeling was very good.

“The engine is very different to Yamaha. It has a lot of power and the revs are quite impressive so the feeling on the bike is quite impressive.

“I felt more than the difference in speed that the engine character is completely different on the Ducati. On the straight when you open the throttle just the noise gives you the impression the engine is very fast.”