The Citizen (Gauteng)

Electrical motorcycle series just more than a year away

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The internatio­nal racing of electrical­ly powered motorcycle­s is coming – and soon.

The debut of the MotoE World Cup is now just over a year away. The opening round of this year’s MotoGP title chase at Losail in Qatar saw the first groundwork for the new Cup laid in a briefing for representa­tives from the teams who will take part in next year’s inaugural season.

The MotoE teams competing will be Tech 3, LCR Team, Marc VDS Team, Pramac, Angel Nieto Team, Esponsoram­a Avintia, Gresini Racing, Sky Team VR46, Pons Racing, Dynavolt Intact GP and SIC58 Squadra Corse.

With a wealth of experience from the MotoGP World Championsh­ip in all classes, the competitio­n is set up to showcase the best of the Cup from the begining.

Cup director Nicolas Goubert led proceeding­s, joined by Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports managing directors Manel Arroyo and Pau Serracanta, manager of sporting direction Carlos Ezpeleta and IRTA CEO Mike Trimby.

“We had the first meeting with all the teams competing next year in MotoE,” said Goubert. “There will be 11 teams, running 18 bikes. All the bikes will be Energica bikes, the same, so it will be a Cup series, instead of a championsh­ip.

“We will have five rounds next year in Europe. We have not yet decided on the tracks we’re going to. The real work starts now. It was important to see all the teams because now they have enough informatio­n to get organised; to start looking at the riders and crew they will have,” Goubert added.

The Energica electric bike will first be in action as part of the MotoGP World Championsh­ip this season, with a demo lap planned for each Grand Prix weekend.

 ??  ?? ELECTRIFYI­NG. MotoE Cup director Nicolas Goubert addresses representa­tives of the teams who will contest next year’s MotoE racing season.
ELECTRIFYI­NG. MotoE Cup director Nicolas Goubert addresses representa­tives of the teams who will contest next year’s MotoE racing season.

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