The opening race of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup at the Misano World Circuit produced an incredible show for the fans on what was a very hot, late-summer Italian afternoon. A great number of overtakes made for an exciting encounter, with three Energica Ego Corsa bikes battling for the top step of the podium until the last lap and ridden to the limit by the three leading protagonists of today’s encounter: Matteo Ferrari (Team Trentino Gresini), Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) and Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama).
The young Italian masterfully kept himself in the lead to cross the line just 0.187secs ahead of a resurgent Garzo, who overtook Simeon for second place at the fast turn 11 on the last lap. With his first – and Team Trentino Gresini’s – win in the series, Ferrari now leads the Championship standings with a two-point margin over Simeon.
Outside the top-3, Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt IntactGP) edged out Niccolò Canepa (LCR E-Team) for fourth place, with María Herrera (OpenBank Angel Nieto Team) in sixth place courtesy of a brilliant performance, which saw the Spanish rider running as high as fourth in the opening stages.
The top-ten was completed by Lorenzo Savadori (Team Trentino Gresini), Nico Terol (OpenBank Angel Nieto Team), Sete Gibernau (Join Contract Pons 40) and Josh Hook (Pramac MotoE).
The race was led early on by pole sitter Alex De Angelis (OCTO Pramac MotoE) but the Sammarinese rider crashed spectacularly on lap three at turn three before walking away from the track uninjured. But the former MotoGP star was not the only rider having to deal with costly mistakes, as on the previous lap Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) crashed out while attempting an overtake manoeuvre on Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) on the inside at turn eight, unluckily taking out both the Italian rider and Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) in the process. The talented young Finn ended up fracturing his left femur and left wrist.
Former Championship leader Mike Di Meglio was forced into an early retirement due to a minor technical problem, while Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama) crossed the line in 13th place after tipping off at turn 14 before remounting.
Race two of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup at Misano will get underway tomorrow morning at 10:05 local time (GMT +2).