Along with his teammates Jérémy Guarnoni and David Checa, Erwan won the world title by finishing seventh in the Bol d'Or, first in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, second in the 8 Hours of Oschersleben and finally twelfth in the 8 Hours of Suzuka. How is the new season shaping up, with the Sepang 8H in two weeks?
French 125 Open Champion in 2001, Erwan then joined the French Espoir Team and participated in 250 Grands Prix in the World Championship for 4 seasons from 2002 to 2005, with best results two seventh places on Aprilia in 2003 at Assen and Phillip Island, ahead of drivers of the caliber of Manuel Poggiali and Toni Elias.
In 2007, Nigon took charge of the FSBK in 1000 Superbike, as well as the World Endurance Championship. He participated in the American round of the Superbike World Championship in 2009 on a GMT94 Yam on the Miller Motorsports circuit. In 2010, he was French Superbike Champion on a BMW, then in 2012, he became German IDM Champion on a BMW alpha Technik – Van Zon. After winning the Albacete 8H in 2011 on a BMW with Sébastien Gimbert and Hugo Marchand, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014 with the Suzuki du SERT in the company of Vincent-Philippe and the late Anthony Delhalle.
In 2015, it was the Suzuka 8H on Kawasaki Trick Star, with whom Nigon competed in a full World Championship season in 2017 and finished tenth for the EVA RT Webike Trick Star team. There will then be a good third place at the 2017-2018 world championship with Honda Endurance Racing, then direction Kawasaki, with Jeremy Guarnoni et David Checa after the 2018 Bol, and finally the supreme title of World Champion in 2019.
First of all, the world title allowed you to be part of the permanent teams for the current season. Is this a great reward for this record, and a solid show of support from Kawasaki?
“It is certain that when you are World Champion, you imagine yourself putting the title back on the line. That was what we hoped for, and it is a form of recognition from Kawasaki and the world of competition motorbike. So yes, it's great to put the title back on the line and it's an honor. »
The first race of the current season ended at the Bol d'Or with an accident involving Mike di Meglio's Honda, Loris Baz's Yamaha and you on the Kawasaki. What happened ?
“This edition of the Bol d'Or was quite incredible, in very special conditions which did not allow us to express ourselves and run a normal race. They stopped the race and we left in the morning for safety reasons. »
“In the morning, things were going well, we were fourth, I had just caught up with Étienne Masson. We were wheel in wheel: there was Mike, Étienne and me. Then Mike broke the engine at the end of the straight. There was a lot of smoke. He didn't notice it right away and dove inside. So I decided to go outside instead, but there were still water stains from the day before, difficult to see because of the heavy smoke. So I came across oil that was impossible to see. »
“I slipped for a long time and hit the wall, but at that point I had almost nothing. In Castellet, for F1 they removed the sandboxes. Which makes it extremely dangerous for us with motorcycles because the circuit is no longer suitable. As a result, the motorcycles slide and hit the walls.
“When I got up, I had almost nothing. Just as I was trying to restart my machine, Loris and his motorcycle came at me like a plane at the World Trade Center! »
“It exploded!” In addition, he was leaving the stands, and that was why he was not present in our group. He was then in second position. So he got into my leg and my motorcycle with 24 liters of gasoline, the tank full. So it exploded like the World Trade Center, but luckily there were no injuries. »
“I could have done badly because I got stuck underneath and managed to get out during the second explosion because it blew twice. The rest we know, with the completely charred motorcycles. It was impossible to put out the fire because the motorcycles were wedged against the wall of tires. The fire was fueled and fed by the tires, the oil, it was an inferno and there was nothing we could do. »
“Again, there would have been the sandboxes, it wouldn’t have happened like that. The absence of sandboxes is perhaps good for cars which allow them to get out more quickly, but for us with motorbikes it is dramatic. »
Three of the main machines favored for the title retired at the Bol, and Suzuki won. Do you think this initial imbalance could have an influence on the stock?
“Obviously, they are taking a good option by starting like that. But now nothing is decided. We saw it again this year. Until the checkered flag is lowered…”
“In this case, at the Bol d'Or, SERT was not the favorite at all, but they ended up winning that race. For three factory bikes to fall in the same minute and retire is truly incredible. »
“But nothing is decided and in endurance you must never give up. We still believe in it, we remain motivated, we must not give up. Past and experience have taught us this. »
A ZX-10R won the Suzuka 8H last year, in incredible conditions, entered by KRT specializing in Superbikes. Is SRC Kawasaki good for you or doesn't matter?
“It’s always good to have the factory-supported KRT team winning with a Kawa. This already proves that the machine works very well, that it has good foundations. Gilles Stafler is entirely autonomous in the preparation of his motorcycles. We don't have the factory support like KRT can have. It's a shame, but we're still happy to see that a Kawa can go so fast. It's reassuring. »
The Sepang 8H will take place in two weeks. You know the place. Do you think this circuit and its somewhat unusual weather will be favorable to you?
“Yes, I think it can help us. We are pretty good in the drying conditions. Pirelli offers us solutions that other manufacturers do not have. I am thinking in particular of the intermediate tires which work very well at Pirelli. »
“We rode there with David (Checa) in the 2000s and Jérémy (Guarnoni) obtained one of his best results in the Superbike World Championship there three or four years ago. »
“We all love this circuit. It's going to look like Suzuka, with fairly high humidity levels, random conditions. I think it will be good. In any case, we are very motivated to try to do the best possible. »
“In terms of results, it's difficult to say because there will be Japanese teams who will perform very well. The local team will also be very present with Franco Morbidelli, Hafizh Syahrin and Michael van der Mark. It's gonna be fun. It will be a hotly contested edition! »
Photos © Kawasaki, FIM EWC
