Smith fastest overall, Garzo takes first E-Pole in FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup testing

The Brit takes over at the top in Valencia but the Spaniard takes first E-Pole in a qualifying simulation

Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) may have missed Day 1 of the official FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup test in Valencia but the Brit made his presence felt on his return as he topped the timesheets with a 1:40.290 on Tuesday – just under a tenth faster than Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing). Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama) completed the top three on the combined timesheets, but it’s Garzo who will start from pole in Wednesday’s race simulation.

(Above) Hector Garzo (4). Photo courtesy of Dorna.

On Day 2 there were three sessions: one practice in the morning, one in the afternoon and an E-Pole qualifying session simulation in which riders do one fast lap each. That was held around mid-way through the action and Garzo took the honour of the first, simulated E-Pole, although Granado was close as he ended the session just 0.025 in arrears. That session alone decides the starting grid for the race, and it’s Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) who will complete the front row.

(Above) Randy de Puniet crashed during testing Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Dorna.

Smith, although fastest overall, was fourth quickest in qualifying, ahead of Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama) and Nico Terol (Openbank Angel Nieto Team), but the Brit won’t be present for the race. Nevertheless, after a first ever run through of a race start on Tuesday – each taking grid positions and then blasting away to test the procedure – Wednesday’s simulation should be a thriller.

Overall, the last session was the one that decided the majority of the top ten on the combined timesheets. Both Smith and Garzo set their best efforts in that session, with Granado the only man in the top five who didn’t. The Brazilian’s fastest lap was his E-Pole lap, putting him ahead of late improvers Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) and consistent frontrunner Tuuli. The three were covered by just 0.065.

Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was sixth fastest overall with his time from the morning, ahead of Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) and Maria Herrera (Openbank Angel Nieto Team), who both set their best efforts in the afternoon.

More, from a press release issued by Octo Pramac Racing:

#ValenciaTest Day2. Alex to start from Row 5 in tomorrow’s race simulation. Josh forced to miss 2nd day of testing due to a gastroenteritis virus.

The second day of #MotoE testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit (Valencia) was marked by the E-Pole that determined the starting grid for tomorrow’s race simulation (scheduled at 10 am).

Alex De Angelis finished in P14 having to deal with some vibrations at the rear that led him to make a mistake at turn 2. Josh Hook instead had to miss the E-pole due to a gastroenteritis virus and will be forced to start from last position on the grid tomorrow.

Interesting data for Alex De Angelis both in the first free practice session (interrupted by a technical issue while he was lapping with lap times very close to Top 5) and in the afternoon session when he finished in Top 10 lapping with a good race pace especially in T1 and T3.

P14 – Alex De Angelis

It was a particular day for us, first with the technical problem in the morning session and then with the vibrations at the rear that didn’t allow me to do my best in qualifying. We will analyze the data to be ready for tomorrow’s simulation that will be important to limit the distance from the group in front.

Josh Hook

Josh was unable to participate in the second day of testing due to a gastroenteritis virus. After a day of rest, his conditions have improved and tomorrow should be able to take part in the race simulation.

Simeon was ninth overall from his E-Pole lap, with Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) completing the top ten just 0.003 off the Belgian rider’s laptime. The gaps were tiny from ninth to 13th: Terol was 0.018 off De Angelis, Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team) was next up and only 0.004 down, with Randy De Puniet (LCR E-Team) in P13 only 0.007 off his teammate.

De Puniet, who crashed on Day 1, also went down on Tuesday. Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE) missed the day’s action due to illness.

There remains another day of testing for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup on Wednesday, including the race simulation, so stay tuned for more.

More, from a press release issued by One Energy Racing:

Bradley Smith sets fastest MotoE time on second day of Valencia test

One Energy Racing rider goes quickest on Tuesday at Spanish track.

One Energy Racing and rider Bradley Smith participated today in the second of the three-day test at the Spanish track, in order to prepare for the opening round of the new MotoE World Cup competition. The Briton, who missed the first day of the test due to his commitments in MotoGP, got back on his electric bike for the first time since March.

Tuesday’s action at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit consisted of two 30-minute sessions – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – as well as a simulation of qualifying. In addition, the morning session saw all the riders in attendance make a practice race start together.

In the first session, the One Energy Racing rider clocked the fifth best time of the morning with a 1:41.189, set on the tenth of his 12 laps.

At 1pm local time the E Pole simulation took place, to try out the new qualifying format for the competition. In it, riders go out on track one-by-one to attempt to set the fastest time. Smith finished fourth, with a time of 1:41.517.

The second 30-minute session of the day was held in the afternoon, and it was in this run that Smith would achieve the fastest lap so far: 1:40.290 on the penultimate of his 9 attempts.

The One Energy Racing rider will not be able to attend the third and final day of the test on Wednesday, and thus his next experience in MotoE will be at the opening round of the year, at Sachsenring from July 5th-7th.

Bradley Smith:

“I felt really good. After almost three months away, it was nice to meet up with the team and work with them again. The bike felt the same as the last time we tried it. We had a very good base setup then, and we stuck with it here in Valencia. We also did our first race start practice, which was interesting since there is no noise from the bikes; it was silent and different from what we’re used to! We tried out two different grid configurations and we will see which one is finally chosen for the safety of everybody involved. The E Pole simulation was somewhat strange; I think there are still small things to be improved with the qualifying system. I’m disapointed because tomorrow I can’t be here for last test day, but I’m very happy to have finished first in today’s sessions. We leave Valencia very satisfied and well prepared for the new season.”