Sylvain Guintoli’s wife: “Nah, that’s not going to happen, mate – no chance!”

Sylvain Guintoli has made his mark in the British Superbike Championship and MotoGP, as well as in the Superbike World Championship, where he won the title riding an Aprilia RSV4 Factory. He also proved himself a winning rider in the World Endurance Championship. In 2021, he clinched the world title alongside Gregg Black and Xavier Simeon.

However, it wasn’t any race in these championships that provided the ultimate adrenaline rush, but rather a special lap of honour, as he recently revealed on the ‘Full Chat’ podcast; a few years ago, he had the unique opportunity to ride the infamous Snaefell Mountain Course on the Isle of Man alongside his colleagues Jonathan Rea, Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies on the infamous Snaefell Mountain Course on the Isle of Man.

TT winner Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle, who gained fame even outside the motorsport community due to his crash at the Tourist Trophy – which was captured on camera – – the video has been viewed over 3.8 million times on YouTube – led the way on a road bike, using braking and indicator signals to draw attention to dangerous sections.

“The track was completely unfamiliar to me and, over the 60 kilometres, I struggled not to lose touch with Milky and Johnny, who was living on the Isle of Man at the time. When we got back to the start and finish, it was the best adrenaline rush you could imagine. It was extremely dangerous, but it was just brilliant,” enthused the 44-year-old family man.

Afterwards, he was hugely tempted to seriously consider taking part in the Tourist Trophy. “I was absolutely convinced I could do it. I spent hours watching on-board videos to memorise the track layout, but then my wife intervened and immediately said: ‘ ’”

“It’s our job as racing drivers to manage risks and try to get through without crashing or getting injured. Road racing is a different sport and therefore requires a completely different approach to risk. These lads are incredible; they have my utmost respect. I love coming to the Isle of Man to watch the Tourist Trophy.”