‘I’d have done the TT but my wife stopped me!’

Sylvain Guintoli in action at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar during a World Superbike Championship race (Photo: Mark Green/SWPix.com) (Mark Green/SWPix.com)

Former FIM World Superbike Champion Sylvain Guintoli has revealed he would have added the TT to his racing CV had his wife not stopped him.

The French rider, a former World Superbike, MotoGP and BSB star, still competes in endurance racing but lists a parade lap in the island as one of his most memorable moments.

'There is temptation to do the TT,’ he explained. ‘Some years back, about 10 years ago, I did a parade lap and it was honestly one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life. It was on closed roads and I remember it so vividly. ‘

Sharing the Mountain Course with the likes of former Castletown resident and six-time WSBK champion Jonathan Rea, plus Tom Sykes, Chaz Davies and TT riders' liaison officer Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the TNT Sports MotoGP pundit.

Speaking on the Full Chat motorcycle podcast, powered by Bikesure, Guintoli admits he’s never forgotten it: 'It was the best adrenaline rush you’re going to get. It was so dangerous, it was so good.

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'I’d never been and I didn’t know the track at all. Milky was guiding the way on the road bike. He was warning us before slow corners, giving us the brake lights, flashing us just to make sure we’re not doing anything silly.

Sylvain Guintoli during the Full Chat motorcycle podcast (-)

'But I didn’t know that Jonny Rea lived in the Isle of Man and knew Milky. Before starting, he said to him: "As long as you see us in the mirrors, just give it some".

'We were at the back hanging on for dear life. It was so dangerous to do that. Equally, when we got back it was the best adrenaline rush you’re going to get. It was so dangerous, it was so good.

'I remember at the time thinking "I think I could do it" and I wanted to get stuck in. I remember watching hours and hours of on-board (footage) and learning the track but then my wife stepped in and she was like: "Nah, that’s not happening mate, no chance.”

'It’s one thing wanting to do it or being attracted to it, and I think loads of riders are like I was, but it’s another thing to actually go out there and do it properly.

'It’s a different sport and approach to risk. It’s what we do. We manage risk and try to get away with it. Road racing is a different equation. These guys are amazing, full respect to them obviously. I love going there and watching it.’

- Full Chat is a motorcycle podcast co-hosted by former athlete turned media personality Iwan Thomas and ex-professional footballer David Prutton, a pundit and presenter for Sky Sports.

Other notable guests who have appeared on the podcast so far include the likes of John McGuinness, Carl Fogarty, Peter Hickman and Storm Stacey.

Episodes can be watched on YouTube and listened to on Apple, Spotify, Audioboom and several other podcast outlets.