Sylvain Guintoli has joked that he will do a rain dance before the start of the World Superbike races at Monza to give 🌠him a better chance of converting his surprise pole position into two equally unexpected wins.

Though the Frenchman is on a confidence high after winning his first WSBK race last time out at Assen, few expected any Ducati rider to challenge for pole position at the high-speed Italian circuit, a reference to the twin-cylinder machine's much publi♊cised lower top speed.

Nonetheless, the arrival of rain in time for Superpole served to level the playing field, ensuring four of the Ducati riders made it into the top eight shootout, with Guintoli going on to claim a clear pole position for the Effenbert L♐iberty team.

Even so, Guintoli adm𒁃its it will likely take another shower before the races to ensure he doesn't los𒈔e out to his rivals after the start.

"First pole for me and in difficult conditions," he beamed. "Unlike Tom and Marco I'm hoping for rain tomorrow, I'll probably do a dance before the race. Today I had to take a lot of risks, I decided to go with the slick tyres and some corners were still wet, so🌌 it was quite dangerous and the last lap was very exciting."

Ending Tom Sykes's pole position streak, Guintoli went on to add that he was addit🧔ionally inspired to a Superpole win by his wife's request for one of the Tissot watches hande🐓d out to whoever secures pole position...

"I thoughܫt Tom had enough watches now and I could do with one for my wife!"