Van der Mark: ‘If Guintoli is not happy, he has to go’

Pata Honda World Superbike rider Michael Van der Mark has answered paddock speculation about the future of his teammate Sylvain Guintoli by saying that if the Frenchman isn’t happy with his current situation, he has to step away from it next season.

Guintoli has had a torrid start to his title defence on the underpowered Honda Fireblade, not yet reaching the podium this season, and paddock speculation has already started that he will be looking to move onwards for next season.

Teammate Van der Mark, who took an impressive double podium at his home round at Assen earlier this year, says that to him it means that the choice for the reigning World Champion is straightforward.

“If he’s not happy, he has to go. If he finds a better challenge, he has to do it. I would do exactly the same. My feeling is that, if Sylvain gets a good chance, he has to do it. That’s my feeling.

“I really enjoy having him as a teammate, but at the end of the day we all have to race for ourselves. Sylvain and I have such a different riding style, but we take the best things from each other. It is good to have somebody next to you with a different riding style.”