More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Race 1: Mantovani denies Casadei, last lap drama for Torres
The RNF rider grabs the win from Casadei after last lap contact between the number 40 and the Championship leader
Saturday, 02 September 2023
Classic last-lap action at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya saw a determined Andrea Mantovani (RNF MotoE™ Team) snatch victory in Race 1, taking his second win of the season in style. Mattia Casadei (HP Pons Los40) led the way on the last lap but made contact early on that lap with title rival Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team), dropping Torres down to P7 as Casadei duelled Mantovani. Ultimately, Casadei was able to close in on Torres’ Championship lead with an important 2nd place, with Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) fully in the mix as well as he rounded out the podium.
The lights went out for Race 1 in Barcelona and it was poleman Torres that led the way through Turn 1, but the Championship leader had Casadei glued to his rear wheel. The battle was about to commence and the heat was soon turned right up for the front four as Torres, Casadei, Mantovani, and Garzo scrapped it out for the top spots and the last lap quickly came around.
The drama then unfolded at Turn 1: Casadei was desperate to hit the front ahead of Torres and the Italian moved ahead of the Spaniard, taking a tight defensive line into the corner. That saw the title-fighting duo cross paths, forcing Torres to sit up and run on at Turn 1. He slotted back in, but the fight for the win was done.
Casadei led the way but it was Mantovani’s time to shine as he pushed his way past his compatriot to take an incredible victory, with Garzo forced to watch on in third. Ferrari came home in fourth, ahead of Nicholas Spinelli (HP Pons Los40) and Randy Krummenacher (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™), whol held on in front of Torres.
Race 2: Casadei takes huge title boost as Torres crashes out
The Italian took victory to snatch the Championship lead from Torres, with pulling 21 points clear with just one round remaining
Mattia Casadei (HP Pons Los40) now leads the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship by 21 points after an intense fight for victory ended with another win, and just as title rival Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) made a first mistake of the year with a crash out of contention. Andrea Mantovani (RNF MotoE™ Team) took second in Race 2, just pipped by Casadei, as Nicholas Spinelli (HP Pons Los40) got back on the podium with a stunning final corner move on Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™).
With just one round remaining, Casadei now has the upper hand but the title could still go one of three ways as Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) now sits one point behind Torres.
Casadei meant business as the lights went out in Barcelona for the second time, and the Italian got the perfect launch as he led Mantovani and the at-the-time Championship leader Torres through Turn 1. Casadei kept the lead as the race began to settle but had a fight on his hands with his closest Championship rival, Torres, as the duo swapped paintwork and both took turns leading the way. There was a gaggle of riders following the leaders though as Race 2 became a group battle for glory.
The final couple of laps came around quickly, and that’s when the drama hit: a small mistake for Torres had big Championship consequences as he suddenly crashed out of the lead at Turn 5. That left Casadei to battle it out with Mantovani and that he did, muscling into the lead on the final lap and Mantovani unable to launch a late attack.
Not so Spinelli, as the number 29 channeled the number 46 and pulled off a final corner wonder to take third and get back on the podium, picking Garzo’s pocket right at the flag.
Ferrari was forced to settle for fifth in Race 2 but still moves to within a single point of Torres in the standings. However, the two are now both more than 20 points adrift of Casadei, and Misano is right around the corner. Tune in for the deciding season finale at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini!
