Progress made on second day of MotoE testing at Jerez

MotoE Jerez Test 2018
Day Two

The initial baby steps for the fledgling MotoE category continued at Jerez overnight. A dry start to the day saw times start to tumble before rain hampered progress for teams as they prepare for the inaugural FIM Enel MotoE World Cup.

Moto2 bikes were also on track overnight with their new Triumph engines and the top four all lapped in the 1m41s. As a gauge of relative performance, the top quartet of MotoE riders lapped in the 1m50s. With limited set-up time and familiarisation so far for the electric bikes, you would imagine that by mid-season next year that differential might perhaps half when progress really starts to be made.

At this test some riders are sharing a single bike across a two-rider team which, along with limited battery life and long recharge times, means that riders in some cases are only getting a handful of laps each day.

Teams are suggesting that battery management and engine temperature control will be some of the key deciding factors that will decide the outcome of the 5 races that will be staged in Europe for the inaugural MotoE season.

It was Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) who topped the timesheets on day two and lowered the new e-bike benchmark to 1m50.265.

Moto Test Jerez Day Bradley Smith — Bradley Smith

That was a full 1.5-second improvement over Friday’s fastest time set by 23-year-old Niki Tuuli. The Fin had to settle for second quickest behind Smith on day two.

In third there was Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), just over a tenth off Tuuli, with Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) another tenth and a half in arrears in P4. Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) completed the top five, but a little further back.

Moto Test Jerez Day Mike Di Meglio — Mike Di Meglio

Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing), meanwhile, was sixth fastest but from his time set on Friday, just ahead of Kenny Foray (Tech3 E-Racing).

Kenny Foray – P7

“I think we already learned a lot yesterday, so this morning we tried a lot of things, especially on my riding style. We could see, that it was immediately better and I have the feeling the second day is always easier. We were beginning to work on the setting, but when the rain arrived we didn’t have any chance anymore to confirm it on track. So, the second and the third session were quite useless. In the end, we didn’t do too many laps, which is a pity. I really hope for good weather tomorrow.”

Moto Test Jerez Day Freddy Foray — Kenny Foray

Randy De Puniet (LCR E-Team) put in the fastest time of the final session but couldn’t improve, and was down in eighth on Saturday

Josh Hook (Alma Pramac Racing) and Niccolò Canepa (LCR E-Team), completed the top 10.

Josh Hook – P9

“It is a fascinating experience and for this, I would like to thank again the Alma Pramac Racing team that gave me this opportunity. The feeling increase lap by lap and the performances are really interesting. There is still a lot of work to be done, for example on braking points, but the feeling is very positive”.

Moto Test Jerez Day Josh Hook — Josh Hook

On Saturday, Jesko Raffin’s (Dynavolt Intact GP) Energica Ego Corsa was ridden by Marvin Fritz as Raffin returned to Valencia for the season final of the FIM CEV Repsol Moto European Championship in which he’s already taken the crown.

There’s one more day of MotoE testing to go in Jerez, although the weather forecast looks in doubt that teams will get to make progress.