Chaz is back
Davies makes racing return in MotoE
As well as racing Ducati’s V21L electric prototype for the first time in 2023, last year’s MotoE World Championship boasted a title fight that went right the way to the wire, while its variety was unmatched, with eight riders bagging at least one win.
The series has pulled off a coup in landing former WSBK star Chaz Davies for 2024, with the Welshman set to compete for the new Aruba Cloud squad against reigning champion Mattia Casadei and other podium regulars.
“MotoE is an important sector for the team and through having a long-term relationship with them, we got stuck in,” Davies told MCN.
While he took some time decide on accepting the team’s proposal, the 37-year-old was swayed by the chance to race the Ducati V21L, which he tested on numerous occasions prior to its debut last year.
“I like trying different things,” he said. “I did have to think about it, as I’ve been out of the game for a couple of years. It’s jumping back into serious competition and there are hungry riders willing to put it on the line. I decided why not? I’m ready for one more crack at a World Championship.
“The technology is very interesting. I rode the bike a few years ago when it was in its development stages. It came about quite organically and I’m ready to get stuck in.”
After rain interrupted a three-day test in Portimao, Davies recognises it will take time to get up to speed. Racing Michelin tyres will be a first, and his team lacks experience with the V21L, which has a wider variety of electronics settings for 2024.
“All my references at these circuits are on Pirellis so there’s a lot of adaptation required. You have to forget what you know a bit. In WSBK you have a lot of options chassis and electronics-wise. This is very much fixed. It’s a shame the battery only lasts 15 minutes, because I could do with three hours of straight running!
“I’d have liked to have been closer at the test, but I wasn’t putting it all together. I’ve got to build back into it. I haven’t set any expectations but I hope I’ll have my moments.”
‘Ready for one more crack at a championship’