MotoE™: the season finale hits full power in France

The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup winner is about to be decided, and it’s the new venue of Le Mans that plays host

Monday, 05 October 2020

The time has come. After some stellar races at Jerez and Misano, the two final showdowns of the 2020 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup are now just around the corner and it’s the new – for MotoE™ at least – venue of Le Mans that plays host. With seasoned veterans taking on rookies in the fight for the crown, that makes for an interesting twist – with no one on the grid having any electric experience at the French track. Everything is on the line as the final 50 points of the year are in play, and after the drama we’ve seen already this season, it remains anyone’s game.

Heading in, it’s 2019 Cup winner Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) on top. The Italian has been consistent as ever and keeps reeling in the points, putting him four clear of his nearest challenger, Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP). Ferrari, however, made his own mistake in Andalucia to dent the maximum he could have scored – whereas Aegerter lost the lead in Misano as he fell victim to another rider’s mistake. Will that change their approach heading into the finale? Aegerter needs to gain but four points isn’t much of a deficit – and he knows he’s been more than fast enough to have battled it out in every race, taking a podium or win every time he’s made it to the line.

In third there’s another fast rookie to contend with as well: Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40). The Spaniard took his first E-Pole in Misano and although he’s yet to win, he’s only seven points down. That’s not a mountain to climb with two races coming up and 50 points left, and he’ll also be pushing hard to take a victory to tick that box. How hard? He said he chose reward over risk last time out, so the wily veteran will be balancing that all weekend. Now it’s the finale, though, there’s no more long game left.

The final more likely candidate for the crown – although it’s a longer shot – is Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse). The Italian has been in the top five all season and he comes into the final round off the back of his best result yet: an impressive second place, after fighting for the lead. What can he do? He’s 15 points down, but with the twists and turns we’ve seen so far, he could even end up 10 points up by just the end of Race 1…

Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) is another interesting prospect. He’s technically still in contention as he’s on 43 points to Ferrari’s 86, but that would require a serious shockwave of events to rip through the races. Nevertheless, he could be playing a vital part as he took the first win of the year and has, barring any mistakes, been quick everywhere. What if Granado is the man ahead of the two or three riders right at the top? Do they attack or settle for the points? And will the Brazilian ride like he has nothing to lose?

Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team) and teammate Xavier Simeon are also still technically in contention, and the former has had a couple of impressive top five rides already in 2020. Simeon, meanwhile, has already been on the podium… before disaster struck as he fell victim to another rider’s crash and suffered a technical problem. Can he get in the mix at the front?

Home hero Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) is another who’ll be pushing hard – especially on home turf – and his two most recent top finishes were solid sixths, which puts him just on the cusp of that battle at the front. Can he move forward?

Last but by no means least, there’s also the new grid formation for Race 2 to contend with. The results from the first race are now pivotal as they decide starting positions for the second, so there’s a lot to be won – and lost – on Saturday. Who will come out on top in the final weekend of the season? Ferrari, Aegerter, Torres? Casadei? Or will drama flip the form book completely?

Find out this weekend as Race 1 begins at 16:20 (GMT +2) on Saturday, before the lights go out for the last time in 2020 at 15:40 on Sunday.

FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup Standings

1 – Matteo Ferrari – (Trentino Gresini MotoE) – Energica – 86

2 – Dominique Aegerter – (Dynavolt Intact GP) – Energica – 82

3 – Jordi Torres – (Pons Racing 40) – Energica – 79

4 – Mattia Casadei – (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) – Energica – 71

5 – Eric Granado – (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) – Energica – 43