Lights out for the first ever FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship is
getting ever closer, and the first track action for the class of 2023
has now concluded at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. From Monday to
Wednesday, the grid had four 15-minute sessions of track action each day
as the new era begins, giving them time to get familiar with their new
machinery and prep for the biggest season yet! So who was fastest and
what did we learn?
DAY BY DAY
Monday saw the field greeted by rain, and there were a couple of riders
missing as they travelled back from the recent WorldSBK round in
Indonesia, including expected contender Eric Granado (LCR E-Team). The
first rider out was Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) but not
by much, with everyone eager for their first taste of the new Ducati. By
the second session the weather was improving before more rain at the end
of play.
Tuesday began with some rain and cloudy skies, but the weather finally
started to improve and the slicks came out to play. The 1:54 barrier was
first bested by Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) on Tuesday morning,
before the Italian was joined there by compatriot – and rookie –
Luca Salvadori (Prettl Pramac MotoE), as well as two-time Cup winner
Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team).
By the last session of the day, it was lap record time as the weather
was finally dry enough to let the riders really push. Granado set the
quickest lap of the test, and there were ten riders under the 1:48
barrier by the end of the day: Granado, Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini
MotoE™), Nicolas Spinelli (Pons Racing 40), Casadei, rookie Randy
Krummenacher (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™), Hikari Okubo (Tech 3
E-Racing), Torres, Kevin Manfredi (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse), Hector
Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) and Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team).
Wednesday saw the rain return for the first session, and the second was
given over to long runs. By the third session of the day, it was
improving once again and the field headed out in earnest as the sun came
out. The final session was good for slicks too, with a few damper
patches but the riders able to use the full 15 minutes for a little more
information gathering.
Still, no one beat Granado’s new lap record from Tuesday – and the
field won’t be returning to Jerez to race this season, so that will
stand for some time!
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