Three days of MotoE testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Hector Garzo sets the absolute best time, but Dominique Aegerter wins the race simulation
Earlier this week, the second official MotoE test took place at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto in Spain. From Monday to Wednesday (11 to 13 April), the electric motorbikes were in action. There were three separate sessions on each of the three days.
On Monday, Eric Granado (LCR) started the morning session with the best time of 1:49.765 minutes. In the second session, Matteo Ferrari (Gresini) was fastest with 1’49.153. Finally, there was a qualifying simulation in the afternoon.
There is a new qualifying format for MotoE this year. The ten slowest riders from the free practices compete in Q1, with the eight fastest qualifying directly for Q2. And the two fastest from Q1 move into Q2. Both sessions last ten minutes.
In this first qualifying simulation, Granado was fastest on Monday with 1:49.020 minutes. On Tuesday, the weather changed. It rained and there was not so much riding. Bradley Smith (RNF) set the best time in the wet with 1:58.080 minutes.
On Wednesday, the track was dry again. Hector Garzo (Tech 3) set the absolute test best time with 1:48.458 minutes. Finally, a test race took place. This was won by Dominique Aegerter (IntactGP). The Swiss had a lead of 1.6 seconds at the finish.
Garzo and Mattia Casadei (Pons) were on the podium. For two co-favourites, the race simulation ended prematurely. Granado crashed at the halfway point in turn 1. And Jordi Torres (Pons), who has won the MotoE World Cup twice, had to pit with a technical problem.
Dominique Aegerter draws positive conclusion
“It’s been a long three days here in Jerez,” reports Aegerter, “because, for one thing, the transition from Sunday’s Supersport bike to Monday’s MotoE wasn’t as easy for me as it usually is, simply because there wasn’t much time in between.”
“When I arrived on Monday, we directly rode three sessions. Unfortunately, there were none on Tuesday because the weather didn’t cooperate. First it rained, but the subsequent sun did not dry the track completely. “
“Therefore, we decided not to go on the track. It simply makes no sense to try or even risk anything in these conditions. Wednesday morning the track was still not completely dry, so we skipped that session as well. “
In the second session things went well, I felt comfortable and managed well. My crew really prepared a good bike for me. Therefore it was easy for me to ride faster and faster times.”
“In the last session we did a nine-lap race simulation, which I started from position two. The battery life was starting to reach its limits there, but it worked out and the times were really fast. “
“I had a good start, then dropped back to third, but eventually took the lead and even managed to pull out 1.6 seconds. Of course I’m happy to finish the test like this and I hope to be able to take the 25 points here in Jerez in three weeks’ time.”
The MotoE season opener will take place as part of the MotoGP race weekend in Jerez. One race each is scheduled for 30 April and 1 May.
Result race simulation (Top 5):
01st Dominique Aegerter (IntactGP) – 9 laps
02nd Hector Garzo (Tech 3) +1.601 seconds
03 Mattia Casadei (Pons) +6.702
04th Hikari Okubo (Ajo) +6.851
05th Kevin Zannoni (SIC58) +14.897
Fastest test times (Top 5):
01st Hector Garzo (Tech 3) – 1’48.458
02nd Dominique Aegerter (IntactGP) – 1’48.480
03 Matteo Ferrari (Gresini) +1’48.505
04th Eric Granado (LCR) – 1’48.666
05th Miquel Pons (LCR) – 1’48.712