Enel FIM MotoE World Cup
Red Bull Ring
Spielberg, Austria
August 10, 2019
E-Pole Qualifying Results (all using Energica Ego Corsa electric motorcycles and Michelin tires):
1. Mike Di Meglio, France, 1:35.182 (New All-Time Lap Record)
2. Xavier Simeon, Belgium, 1:35.193
3. Bradley Smith, UK, 1:35.311
4. Jesko Raffin, Switzerland, 1:35.365
5. Niki Tuuli, Finland, 1:35.385
6. Hector Garzo, Spain, 1:35.390
7. Matteo Ferrari, Italy, 1:35.403
8. Alex De Angelis, San Marino, 1:35.774
9. Eric Granado, Brazil, 1:35.888
10. Maria Herrera, Spain, 1:36.266
11. Niccolo Canepa, Italy, 1:36.369
12. Sete Gibernau, Spain, 1:36.613
13. Lorenzo Savadori, Italy, 1:36.703
14. Josh Hook, Australia, 1:37.148
15. Kenny Foray, France, 1:37.500
16. Randy De Puniet, France, no time recorded*
17. Nicolas Terol, Spain, no time recorded*
18. Mattia Casadei, Italy, no time recorded*
*Qualified for the race having achieved a time within 107% of the fastest rider in a free practice session.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Di Meglio takes E-Pole in Austria by just 0.011
Frenchman beats Simeon and Smith to the top in the second round of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup
2008 125cc World Champion Mike Di Meglio has taken FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup E-Pole honours at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich after sticking in a 1:35.182 to place his EG 0,0 Marc VDS Energica Ego Corsa just 0.011 ahead of second-placed Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama Racing), with the rain staying away to allow the full spectacle of E-Pole to take place. One Energy Racing’s Bradley Smith completes the front row, a big step forward from a more difficult qualifying for the Brit in Round 1.
In the order dictated by combined practice times, the riders headed out one-by-one, with the fastest three heading for parc ferme before a faster rider knocked them out. Except Randy de Puniet (LCR E-Team) and Nico Terol (Openbank Angel Nieto Team), who exceeded track limits and therefore had their laptimes cancelled, set to start from the back, and Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse), who crashed – rider ok.
Simeon was seventh on the combined timesheets ahead of E-Pole, leaving six riders to follow the former MotoGP™ rider. It was the Belgian’s best lap of the weekend too, a 1:35.193, and it became the benchmark.
Casadei was the first rider to try and go quicker but the Italian crashed at Turn 4 to end his chances of a good grid slot, with Championship leader Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) then attempting to go P1…and the Finnish rider could only manage third behind Simeon and Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt Intact GP) at the time. Smith then stuck in a lap time good enough for P2, before Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) then set about trying to top teammate Simeon’s time. The Brazilian couldn’t and ended the lap seven tenths down, leaving it down to two: Di Meglio and Free Practice pacesetter Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing).
Di Meglio went out and was under at the first split, but it was tight around the whole lap. The Frenchman lost time in the third sector, however, he would then snatch P1 away from Simeon by just 0.011 over the line. It was all down to Garzo but it wasn’t to be for the Spaniard as he slotted into sixth and Di Meglio took his first pole in the paddock for ten years.
By the flag the top seven were separated by 0.221 in the close-fought encounter, with the grid led by Di Meglio and Simeon and Smith joining him on the front row. Raffin improved to go from P10 in Free Practice to P4 in E-Pole, and he heads up Row 2 for a much-improved Saturday in Austria.
Sachsenring winner and points leader Tuuli completed the top five ahead of Garzo, with Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) locking out Row 2. Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE), Granado and Maria Herrera (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) complete the top ten.
A battle looks set to be well and truly on in Round 2 of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup, so tune in on Sunday at 10:00 local time (GMT+2) to see the electric class go racing!
More, from a press release issued by Energica:
ENERGICA ON TOP FORM AT RED BULL RING AS DI MEGLIO CLAIMS POLE POSITION
The second day of action at the Red Bull Ring saw an incredible show put together by the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup riders aboard their Energica Ego Corsa machines as well as a stunning display of speed, already from the first-ever FP3 session: despite qualifying “only” sixth, Tech 3 E-Racing’s Hector Garzo set an incredible lap-time in the morning in 1’35.028secs, which was 0.750secs quicker than the current outright Moto3 outright lap record at the Red Bull Ring as well as 1.662secs faster than today’s Moto3 pole time – all in just three sessions around the Austrian track.
With temperatures on the rise in the afternoon, the E-Pole saw Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) coming out on top after logging a 1’35.182secs in his single-lap attempt. The French veteran of the MotoGP paddock snatched pole position from Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama) for only 11 thousandths of a second after the Belgian – who got on track as seventh-last – looked like he was on his way to claim the most prominent spot on the starting grid.
Completing the first row will be Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing), ahead of a very competitive Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt Intact GP) and round one winner Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE). With the aforementioned Garzo in sixth, Matteo Ferrari (Team Trentino Gresini MotoE), Alex De Angelis (OCTO Pramac MotoE), Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama) and Maria Herrera (OpenBank Ángel Nieto Team) rounding out the top-ten.
After being among the protagonists in day one, Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) had a disappointing qualifying session as he crashed unhurt at turn two in his flying lap.
The second race of the 2019 FIM Enel MotoE World Cup will begin tomorrow morning at 10:00 local time (GMT+2).
