Source: Supplied.

Former Superbike world champion Sylvain Guintoli will be back on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the 2017 British Superbike Championship season, riding for the new Suzuki/Hawk Racing/Bennetts team.

It has been announced at the Motorcycle Live Show in the UK that the popular Frenchman, who was last in the GSX-R saddle in 2009, will ride alongside 2016 British Superstock Champion Taylor Mackenzie aboard the new 2017 GSX-R1000R.

“I’m really happy to be back in British Superbikes,” Guintoli said. “Even though it was short, I enjoyed my time in the series in 2009 with Suzuki. I had a really good start to the season on the GSX-R1000, with a win and three more podiums in four races and I feel like I have unfinished business after that year. I’m now looking forward to working with Hawk and the Bennetts Suzuki team for 2017 and getting my first taste of the new GSX-R1000 and I’m sure we can fight at the front from the start.”

This year, Guintoli managed to put Pata Yamaha on the podium for the first time during his final appearance with the team at Qatar’s WorldSBK final round. He will be replaced by Michael van der Mark for 2017.