WORLD SUPERBIKE MAKES ITS DÉBUT IN TURKEY ON THE INTERCITY ISTANBUL PARK CIRCUIT. SYLVAIN GUINTOLI AND EUGENE LAVERTY ARE EAGER TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR FAMILIARITY WITH THE TRACK IN THE FIGHT FOR TOP SPOT IN THE RIDER STANDINGS. APRILIA ARRIVES IN TURKEY WITH A SOLID LEAD IN THE MANUFACTURER STANDINGS. Noale, 11 September 2013 – World Superbike is preparing for two away rounds in first-time locations. Before taking on Laguna Seca in the United States the factory derivative stars will race on the Turkish Intercity Istanbul Park circuit for the first time ever. Located in the Asian section of its namesake city, the track is 5,340 metres long with eight left-handers, six right-handers and an anticlockwise racing direction. For many riders this is not a completely new location since they have ridden here at some other point in their respective careers. This is the case for Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty, the Aprilia riders who are lying second and fourth respectively in the Championship. The single point that separates Sylvain from the top spot merely increases his ambition for victory. The recent races at the Nürburgring confirmed that his injured shoulder is holding up well and that it is not having an impact on his performance. His knowledge of the track and its characteristics could give the French rider an advantage in bringing out his best performance. At four rounds from the end of the season, the battle will be more heated than ever. Sylvain Guintoli: “Istanbul Park is a great track where I have good memories from my GP days. More importantly, the fight for the championship is on, and this is very exciting. After the disappointment in Germany, my goal is to get back on the top step of the podium”. Eugene Laverty, coming off a podium finish in Germany, has also already had a taste of the Turkish asphalt, but he’ll need to recalibrate his point of reference based on the powerful RSV4 Superbike. The Northern Irish rider, fourth in the rider standings, is a potential contender for the title. If he wants to keep his hopes alive there is only one strategy to follow: finish the upcoming rounds ahead of his direct rivals. Eugene Laverty: “I raced in Istanbul back in 2007 in the 250cc World Championship so it’s not entirely a new circuit for me. I expect that it will be much different on a superbike though so I will need to relearn the circuit. I’m still in the title fight and I will do my best to outscore my championship rivals this weekend”.
Aprilia’s Guintoli Says His Goal Is To Get Back On Top Of The Podium, In Istanbul
Aprilia’s Guintoli Says His Goal Is To Get Back On Top Of The Podium, In Istanbul
© 2013, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
![Aprilia's Guintoli Says His Goal Is To Get Back On Top Of The Podium, In Istanbul](/wp-content/uploads/rrw/86ea2eae-f696-4e7c-b9b5-257d9bd4d9f0.jpg)