Just after the last Grand Prix in the USA Valentin Guillod switched from his 250 Yamaha Standing Construct to the 450 Yamaha, his new bike as he will now race in the main class. After a first race at the Motocross of Nations one month ago, the Swiss rider went to Italy for some testing sessions and prepare since several weeks his Supercross season with Genoa, Lille and Geneva.
Just after the last Grand Prix in the USA Valentin Guillod switched from his 250 Yamaha Standing Construct to the 450 Yamaha, his new bike as he will now race in the main class. After a first race at the Motocross of Nations one month ago, the Swiss rider went to Italy for some testing sessions and prepare since several weeks his Supercross season with Genoa, Lille and Geneva.
Valentin, after a first race on the 450 Yamaha at the Motocross des Nations, what is your feeling?
I was expecting better results at the Nations but that was not easy, as we came back from the US on Tuesday and didn’t have so much time to ride this bike. I struggled during the weekend, but it remains a positive experience and I show some good things. Then we went testing during two days some factory engines; I had two different one’s and we went on two different tracks, to choose which one I would use this winter. There was a great relationship with team Rinaldi, we did a great job and I was surprised with the engines; we leave Italy optimistic, we’ll have a very good bike to work this winter.
You will enter several Supercross, so no time to relax?
I just took it cool a few days, but not so many as the Supercross are coming with Genoa on November 7th, Paris Lille one week later and Geneva early in December. I’m working hard for theses races; in the past when I raced Supercross it was always fixed at the last moment. I will use a stock engine, which is already powerful, and we have good suspensions for this 450. This year I do everything to be ready for these SX, and until now I’ve a lot of fun when practicing; I will do my best to get good results, but will not be crazy on the tracks. It will be a great experience for next season.
How have you prepare these Supercross?
I’m lucky as I have the possibility to practice with some of the best French SX Tour riders, on different tracks. Riders such as Fabien Izoird or Florent Richier welcome me on their practice tracks; it’s really cool as they both have a huge SX experience!
You will take some days off this winter?
Yes, as soon as Genoa is over on December 5th I will take one month off, to go skiing and have some good time in the mountains.
What are your goals for next season?
With team Standing Construct, we have a first goal for the opening rounds of the season: to be in the top seven of the series. Then we’ll see where we’ll be. Next year I don’t want to struggle in the first races, as it was in the past, and I want to be ready before Qatar. We have already a good engine to practice, and as we’ll got the racing engines early next year I’m sure that we’ll have a very good bike at the first GP’s. So we’ll go confident in Qatar, as we also plan to do several races in February; honestly I am optimistic as our bike is already excellent, and team Rinaldi who provides us the engines as a huge experience of the 450.