DOHA (Qatar): After two pre-season tests at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, it’s action stations for the 2021 FIM Enel MotoE World Cup as the grid return to the same venue for Round 1 at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España.
It’s familiar turf for all by now, and all signs point to another classic race to open the season.
Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) arrives as the fastest rider in testing, the Brazilian leaving it late to pip Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) to the top on the final day and set a new – although unofficial – lap record. It was just 0.041 between the two.
Aegerter dominated the race simulation but Granado was one who dropped back and didn’t push. Last year, it was similarly split: Granado won the first race of the season at Jerez, and Aegerter the second as the Cup started the year with two rounds in Andalucia.
Granado and Aegerter certainly arrive as key favourites, but reigning Cup winner Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) is another who was fast in testing and kept his cards close to his chest in the race simulation.
There are no points for being fast in pre-season, so the Spaniard will likely be one to watch again as the lights go out for real. The 2019 Cup winner and 2020 runner up, meanwhile, arrives as an expected contender but so far hasn’t been a key threat at the front.
Not having adapted as quickly to changes in the tyres, Matteo Ferrari (Team Gresini MotoE) will be looking for more and with his track record of consistency on race day, can’t be counted out.
The top three on the combined timesheets in the test, however, was completed by Xavier Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) as the Andorran continued to impress, but he had close company from the similarly experienced Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE).
