Dynavolt Intact GP’s Dominique Aegerter set the pace for the opening MotoE preseason test of 2022 at Circuito De Jerez - Angel Nieto.
Pons Racing’s Jordi Torres and LCR E-Team’s Eric Granado came close to answering the 2021 runner up but with mixed conditions across the three days in Andalucia, the WorldSSP Champion’s pace from Monday would not be bettered.
Shorter sessions - with a maximum of 20 minutes on track - new engines and advanced technical components allowing weight reduction, distribution and better handling for the Energica Ego Corsa were all on show as MotoE began preseason testing at Jerez in Southern Spain this week.
Spring weather brought a range of elements for the electric class riders to contend with, Monday seeing the best conditions for a dry and bright start. Tuesday’s running was impacted by heavy rain with cold and damp conditions continuing through to Wednesday’s finale - with the penultimate session, originally intended as a qualifying simulation, cancelled.
Britain’s Bradley Smith kicked off proceedings by topping Monday’s FP1 session, and again on Wednesday morning, with Aegerter mastering the times overall due to his 1’48.634 set during the favourable afternoon conditions of day one.
Smith’s WithU GRT RNF teammate Niccolo Canepa topped day two’s action, despite the pace ten seconds adrift of the Swiss rider’s benchmark in the mixed conditions, with reigning World Cup Champion Jordi Torres just shy of his 2021 rival, thanks to a 1’48.877, as Wednesday drew to a close on a returning dry track.
LCR’s Miquel Pons was the only rider missing from 2022’s 18-strong line-up as testing began after the Spaniard had to undergo surgery due to appendicitis. Teammate Eric Granado, however, was also forced to sit out of the action from mid-way through day two after a crash in FP5.
Hikari Okubo, Xavier Cardelus and Smith all suffered in the wet FP4 with the red flag ultimately brought out for Maria Herrera. While just 15 riders completed the action for the final day after Octo Pramac’s Kevin Manfredi was sent to hospital for checks following his crash at the end of Tuesday.
After the cancellation of the mock-qualifying session, Wednesday’s finale saw the times improve with the conditions for the closing 20 minutes of track time, but Aegerter’s Monday effort remained safe overall, by a quarter-of-a-second.
The World Cup preparations continue at Jerez next month for the second three-day test scheduled for 11-13th April.
MotoE Jerez test combined times
1 Dominique AEGERTER Dynavolt Intact GP 1,48.634
1 Jordi TORRES Pons Racing 40 1,48.877
2 Eric GRANADO LCR E-Team 1,48.925 291
2 Mattia CASADEI Pons Racing 40 1,49.060 182
4 Niccolo CANEPA WithU GRT RNF MotoE 1,49.327 449
3 Xavier CARDELUS Avintia Esponsorama 1,49.529 895
4 Matteo FERRARI FELO Gresini MotoE 1,49.547 913
6 Xavi FORES OCTO Pramac MotoE 1,49.656 778
5 Hikari OKUBO Avant Ajo MotoE 1,49.656 1,022
7 Bradley SMITH WithU GRT RNF MotoE 1,49.719 1,085
8 Hector GARZO Tech3 E-Racing 1,49.725 848
10 Kevin ZANNONI Ongetta Sic58 Squadra Corse 1,49.965 1,087
10 Marc ALCOBA Openbank Aspar 1,50.149 1,515
12 Kevin MANFREDI OCTO PRAMAC MotoE 1,50.570 1,936
12 Maria HERRERA Openbank Aspar 1,50.690 1,812
13 Alex ESCRIG Tech 3 E-racing 1,51.034 2,156
14 Alessio FINELLO FELO Gresini MotoE 1,51.490 2,612
