[EWC] Exclusive interview with Julien da Costa (ERC-BMW) “There is a revolution on motorcycles because 100% of the parts are new”

Fourth in the Bol d'Or tests in 2018, Julien da Costa (three-time World Champion) placed the one entered by the ERC-BMW Motorrad Endurance Team with his teammates Kenny Foray and Mathieu Ginès at the top of the S 1000 RR. Fourth at the end of the first hour, the trio was 55th at the end of the second hour due to a fall and then retired after 245 laps. The 2018 Bol was contested with the old bike, and the next 24H Motos should be contested with the new S1000RR, unveiled at the Milan show. But preparing a competitive machine for a 24-hour race is not that simple or quick to do.

Julien, at what stage of preparation for the new machine is your team currently? Is it planned to use the old bike at Le Mans for safety reasons?

“The question is timely because I have a meeting in Germany next week with the whole team and my teammates so that we can take stock of this subject. They kept the old motorcycles in case of necessity, if for example the preparation of the new machines was not completed.

“The new one is not yet mass-produced, only pre-series models currently exist. So we are waiting to know if the feedback is good with the Superbike model. And from there, we will be able to know if the preparation can be completed for the 24 Hours. »

What does the new S 1000 RR bring to endurance competition compared to the old one?

“Until we try it, we can’t know. It remains a bit of a secret, although we know the numbers on paper and the characteristics. There is nothing revolutionary in terms of riding, on the other hand there is a revolution on the bike because 100% of the parts are new.

“We cannot adapt any part of the old to the new. This is what will take a little time to prepare. What is certain is that all the figures are more efficient than the old ones. It is lighter, more powerful, with revised electronics, etc. »

Your German ERC-BMW Motorrad Endurance team is considered official. How involved is the BMW factory?

“BMW has a rather particular policy: they want teams that are logistically independent, that is to say who take care of the drivers, mechanics, salaries, trucks, etc. themselves.

“BMW is involved by providing the bikes, the engines, the engineers and all the updates made available quickly and not six months later. BMW takes care of the chassis and the engine with its engineers »

And they provide a budget for the team, I assume?

“I don't know about that, I'm completely ignorant. »

Several crews are changing their composition this winter. Do you have a long-term agreement with your team, as well as your teammates Kenny Foray and Mathieu Ginès?

“Yes, because since the 2018 Bol d’Or, we have been committed for two years, which is a first for us. With Kenny Foray et Mathieu Ginès we will compose the crew until the Suzuka 8 Hours 2020. »

Aside from endurance races, what are your opportunities to ride a motorcycle fast?

“Besides that, I am a development driver for Dunlop within the “test team”. We have between eight and ten events spread throughout the year, alongside the season, with racing motorcycles. These are tests of racing tires and not road tires. So that means you have to test them thoroughly, at sprint or endurance race pace, it depends.

“It allows me to do a lot of driving all year round between races and tests. It's clear that just five races a year may not seem like much, so everyone tries to find something else to train for. »

After an unsuccessful first round of the Championship at the Bol d'Or, how do you envisage the remaining four races?

“We’re going to take them one by one. It is clear that having scored zero points in the first, we cannot look too far into the Championship. There we will try to win each race that comes. We're going to do the best we can. »

Julien with his teammates Kenny Foray and Mathieu Ginès

Video: The new S 1000 RR

Photos © Team ERC-BMW Motorrad Endurance