Granado sets track record at Jerez: 1st MotoE test with new Ducati bikes

At the collective testing of all teams, the MotoE prepared for its fifth season this week at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. Along for the ride were not only rainy weather and some rookies, but also Ducati's new all-electric motorcycle. With this Eric Granado immediately set a new track record for the MotoE.

.

Four times 15 minutes, so a total of one hour per day - so much test time was the driver:in each of three days in this week. On Monday and Wednesday, however, it was hardly possible to set best times due to rain. Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) was the first rider to take to the track during the 2023 test. The best time of Day 1 was set by rookie Luca Salvadori (Prettl Pramac MotoE) in the absence of all the riders who had competed in WorldSBK the previous weekend in Indonesia. Behind them lined up familiar faces like Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE), Kevin Manfredi (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Cors) and Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team).

On Tuesday, the track finally dried enough for the afternoon sessions to be run on slick tires. And already the best times tumbled: A total of ten riders broke the 1:48-minute time barrier. Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) even set a new track record in Jerez for the electric class and thus also the day's best time of 1:47.053 minutes. By comparison, the overall best time of the 2022 test, set by Dominique Aegerter, was 1:48.634 minutes.

Since rain set in again on Wednesday, the teams put their focus on "long runs" on the final day of testing. The conclusion of many racing teams was nevertheless: a successful debut for the bikes of the new unit manufacturer Ducati. The overall result of the tests was more or less based on the best times of the second day of testing: championship candidate Eric Granado got off to a good start in the new season, followed by veteran Matteo Ferrari. Rookie Nicholas Spinelli (Pons Racing 40) was a surprise third.

Overall results of the MotoE test in Jerez

.

position	driver:in	Team	Time
1	Eric Granado	LCR E-Team	1:47.053 minutes
2	Matteo Gresini	Felo Gresini MotoE	+0.257 seconds
3	Nicholas Spinelli	Pons Racing 40	+0.425 seconds
4	Mattia Casadei	Pons Racing 40	+0.451 seconds
5	Randy Krummenacher	Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE	+0.471 seconds
6	Hikari Okubo	Tech3 E-Racing	+0.473 seconds
7	Jordi Torres	Openbank Aspar Team	+0.495 seconds
8	Kevin Manfredi	Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse	+0.585 seconds
9	Hector Garzo	Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE	+0.642 seconds

 

Driver:inside changes during winter break

In addition to Spinelli, there are several other rookies in the World Cup rider field: among them are 2014 Moto2 champion Tito Rabat, who has joined Pramac, and Randy Krummennacher, who, in addition to stints in Moto2 and WorldSBK, now competes for Dynavolt Intact GP in MotoE. This means that the German team will have two bikes this season, as will Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse, leaving the field at 18 starters:inside despite the withdrawal of Avant Ajo MotoE and Avintia Esponsorama Racing.

After the withdrawal of his team, Hikari Okubo, who was still racing for Avant Ajo in 2022, had to find a new employer. He has joined Tech3 for the fifth season of MotoE. So has returnee Alessandro Zaccone. Hector Garzo, who competed for Tech3 last year, takes a cockpit with Dynavolt Intact. Double champion Jordi Torres moved to Openbank Aspar, where he becomes Maria Herrera's new teammate.

MotoE riders:inside 2023 at a glance

team	Driver:in	Driver:in
Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE	Randy Krummenacher	Hector Garzo
Felo Gresini MotoE	Matteo Ferrari	Alessio Finello
LCR E-Team	Eric Granado	Miquel Pons
Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse	Kevin Zannoni	Kevin Manfredi
Openbank Aspar Team	Maria Herrera	Jordi Torres
Pons Racing 40	Mattia Casadei	Nicholas Spinelli
Prettl Pramac MotoE	Luca Salvadori	Tito Rabat
RNF MotoE Team	Mika Perez	Andrea Mantovani
Tech3 E-Racing	Alessandro Zaccone	Hikari Okubo

 

For MotoE, it's off to Barcelona in just under four weeks for more testing before the 2023 season kicks off at Le Mans on May 13-14. This season, a total of 16 races will be held.