For the second season in succession , the MotoE™ World Cup has turned the doubters into believers . As it did in its inaugural season in 2019 , the one-make class produced exciting racing , unquestionable drama and a title fight that went all the way to the wire . With 18 entrants competing aboard identical Energica Corse machines capable of 260 Km / h and super sticky Michelin MotoGP™-spec tyres , the formula for close racing was complete . In five out of the seven races witnessed last year , the victory fight There was variety to boot , with five different race winners and nine podium finishers . And as many as four riders went to the final round in France with hopes of claiming the overall world crown . Considering the difficulties posed by the Corona virus pandemic , it was a testament to the willpower of all involved that the seven-race series passed with such distinction . Now in its third season , the MotoE™ World Cup is back for its third season with an expanded series being held over seven races and six rounds running from May to September . Grand Prix winners Dominique Aegerter and Jordi Torres ( also the reigning MotoE™ World Cup winner ) head the grid , while 2019 champ Matteo Ferrari will also provide stiff competition . As was the case in the past two years , each of the MotoGP™ satellite teams will run two entries for this year ’ s MotoE™ World Cup , with Avintia Esponsorama Racing , LCR , Octo Pramac , Tech 3 , Petronas Sprinta Racing ( in the guise as One Energy Racing ) and Gresini all represented . Some of Moto2™ and Moto3™ ’ s most respected teams , including Ajo Racing , Intact GP , Join Contract Pons 40 , Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse and the Openbank Aspar Team will also field competitive entries . The series kicks off at the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez on 2nd May before travelling to France , where the famous Le Mans circuit will host round two on 16th May . Next up come two new additions to the MotoE™ World Cup calendar : First the glorious Circuit of Barcelona plays host to round three on 6th June before a trip to the Netherlands , where the historic Assen venue is the scene of round four on 27th June . Round five will come from Austria ’ s high-speed Red Bull Ring before the final round at the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano sees the season end in style with a double header on September 18th and 19th .
44 | MotoE TM | Preview
18 riders representing 10 countries will battle it out this season , including 2020 Cup winner Torres ( Pons Racing 40 ) as he prepares to defend the throne . The fact the popular Spaniard was a rookie last year underlined his amazing ability to adapt to the heavier electric machinery . Crucially he kept his head in a critical moment ( the first race at Le Mans ) when all of his rivals appeared to lose theirs . 2019 winner and 2020 runner-up Ferrari ( Trentino Gresini MotoE ) also returns . A figure capable of unerring consistency , his late season collapse in 2020 came as one of the year ’ s major surprises . No doubt he ’ ll be keen to put that right this time around . The same can be said of Aegerter ( Dynavolt Intact GP ), who placed third overall in last year ’ s series . Like Torres , the Swiss rider took no time in adapting to class in his first year , winning two races . Only a series of unfortunate events kept him from claiming the crown . There are some interesting moves for fellow riders of experience too , as race winner Eric Granado switches to One Energy Racing and Alessandro Zaccone heads for Octo Pramac MotoE . The likes of Mattia Casadei ( Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse ), Lukas Tulovic ( Tech3 E-Racing ), Maria Herrera ( Openbank Aspar Team ) and Xavier Cardelus ( Avintia Esponsorama Racing ) also remain on the grid , and there are some exciting new – and wellknown – faces too . Yonny Hernandez joins Octo Pramac MotoE as the popular Colombian makes a return to the Grand Prix paddock , and Hikari Okubo will be putting his WorldSSP experience to the test in a new challenge with Avant Ajo MotoE . Miquel Pons and Kevin Zannoni join LCR E-Team , Fermin Aldeguer will race as Herrera ’ s teammate at Openbank Aspar , Andrea Mantovani partners Ferrari at Trentino Gresini MotoE , Corentin Perolari joins Tulovic at Tech3 E-Team and Portuguese rider Andre Pires joins the ranks of Avintia Esponsorama Racing . How will the rookies get on ? With a mix of backgrounds – and seeing the success of the likes of Torres on his debut – it will be another exciting year .