World Champion in 125 cc in 3 with 2008 victories, Mike currently leads the World Endurance Championship with the FCC TSR Honda France team alongside his teammates Freddy Foray and Josh Hook. He had previously just won the 5 Heures Motos, the 24 Hours of Oschersleben, the 8 Hours of the Slovakia Ring and the Bol d'Or in 8-2016 with the GMT2017. This season, he is embarking on the great electric adventure by piloting the Energica Ego Corsa of the Estrella Galicia 94 Marc VDS team in the brand new MotoE World Cup.
Mike, during your victory at the Bol d'Or with FCC TSR Honda France, we had the impression that the cards were redistributed this season (2018-2019) with for example second place in the Wepol Racing Yamaha Championship ( ex-Penz13.com) in front of bigwigs like YART, SERT and SRC. Does this Bol d'Or, the first race of the EWC season, indicate a trend in the Championship to come?
“The Wepol Racing team had a very good race, but we must take into account the fact that each of the “factory” teams had problems at different times of the race. This allowed private crews like theirs to find themselves on the podium, although they did not really expect it because they had received their motorcycles shortly before.
“They rode very well and had a great race, but I think that in normal conditions, there would still be several official teams who would have been in front. »
For several years, Honda did not dominate in endurance. The world's leading manufacturer has now regained the lead. Compared to your opponents, what are the advantages of your CBR1000RR SP2?
“I tried the new version recently in Okayama. At Bol d'Or we were still driving the old model. I think the performance we achieved with the old bike, for the first time I raced with them, was already very good.
“When I saw the potential of the new bike, it was still a step above. During the Bol, the team did not want to take any risks with the new model over a 24-hour race. For the next event at Le Mans, we will use the new CBR1000RR SP2. »
At the beginning of this December, your team was invited to the “Honda Racing Thanks Day” at Twin Ring Motegi with all the Honda champions, then to test on December 13 and 14 at the Okayama International Circuit. You're not a factory team, but it feels like Honda supports you very well. Is that the case ?
“TSR has had a very good relationship with Honda for a long time. We have strong support from Honda because for the 8 hours from Suzuka TSR has a machine roughly equivalent to the official bike.
“It remains a private team but there is effective support from Honda behind it. I was able to test the bike in the 8-hour version in Okayama, and we were also able to work on the 24-hour version for Le Mans. »
In 2019, you will compete in the five MotoE World Cup Grands Prix for the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS team. Why did you choose this new championship, alongside endurance?
“This team contacted me during the season and presented this electric motorcycle project. It really interested me straight away because I know the potential of this team. The electric motorcycle is new, but I know that when this team does something, they do it thoroughly.
“I asked Honda if I could have the possibility of participating in this championship and since there was no concordance of dates, they said yes. It remains a motorcycle and therefore allows you to work on certain things that you cannot work on in an endurance race. »
During the first tests in Jerez, you set the best time on the third day and the third fastest time overall over the three days. First of all, did you have fun on this bike?
“Yes, I had a lot of fun with it. I really didn't expect that. All the pilots feared something very heavy, complicated, and we felt that we would have to work a lot on the settings to make driving easier. But actually not at all.
“We found ourselves on a bike with a very good base. We can have fun and push a lot. It's incredible the level of grip you can get in the rain with Michelin tires.
" I'm done tests third overall. We managed to always be in front with regularity during each session, which is something very good. »
Now that you have an idea of the bike, your team and your opponents, what are your goals and hopes in MotoE for the 2019 season?
“My goal is to try to win as many races as possible and if possible to get the title and win the World Cup. I think we had a good first test session. Afterwards we will have to see how everyone is progressing during a three-day test in the dry. You have to keep working to be the best.
“These races are going to be quite special because they are very short, not the type of event where you have to manage the tires or that sort of thing. »
Not even the battery, for that matter.
“We will be able to attack all the time. They made it so that we didn't have to manage the battery. It will be the one who manages to attack the best throughout the duration of the race who will win. »
Note: The next test session dedicated to MotoE will take place in Jerez from March 12 to 14.
Photo: The FCC TSR Honda France team with Mike di Meglio, Freddie Foray, team manager Masakazu Fujii and Josh Hook.
Video: Mike di Meglio looks back on his first race with FCC TSR Honda France
Pictures : FCC TSR Honda France, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS and motogp.com / Dorna
