Former WorldSBK Champion Sylvain Guintoli will race for the Puccetti Kawasaki team at the Jerez and Qatar rounds.

Having just completed a season in the British Superbike Championship the French rider has decided to make his return into the WorldSBK paddock with the Reggio Emilia based Kawasaki Puccetti Racing squad.

Guintoli, who rode for many years in both 250cc Grands Prix and MotoGP, before winning nine WorldSBK races and subsequently the title itself, will make his comeback on two track layouts – Jerez and Losail - that he knows very well. This will also be his first ever experience riding a Kawasaki machine in WorldSBK.

“I am very happy to be back in the FIM Superbike World Championship for the last two rounds of the season. Jerez and Doha are fantastic race tracks and I have many memories related to these layouts. I can’t wait to try the ZX-10RR machine and I would like to thank both Manuel and Kawasaki for this great opportunity.”

Anthony West will move to the team’s WorldSSP bike in place of the injured Kenan Sofuoglu while Axel Bassani takes Kyle Ryde’s spot after Leon Haslam’s massive crash at Brands Hatch on Sunday ruled him out.