The MotoE riders' press conference kicks off the 2023 Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring. After ten races, Jordi Torres leads the classification of MotoE ahead of Matteo Ferrari and Mattia Casadei.
The words of the riders protagonists of MotoE 2023 in the press conference that kicks off the Austrian GP on the Red Bull Ring circuit: championship leader Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team), the most direct challenger Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE), the third in the standings Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40), the rookie winner at Silverstone, Randy Krummenacher (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE) and Eric Granado (LCR E-Team), who scored one-two at the Red Bull Ring a year ago. Here's what they said.
Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team)
“This event brings a lot of pressure for me. I know this kind of track is not good for my riding style. But yeah, it's the first big challenge of the championship and of the season and we will see how our potential is at this difficult track for us. We will need to take some risks just to stay at the top. We know this and for sure will try to squeeze everything we have at this track to try to remain on the limit.
In the wet conditions at Silverstone, we haven't had a lot of experience so on the first lap to get that good feeling as early as possible we always need to push. During the qualifying practice at Silverstone, it can happen. We always try to search for the limit and yeah. But this is a big mistake and for sure we will learn from this here this weekend for sure. This can only happen one time and not two times. But yes, during the races I started in ninth position and I tried to overtake some riders have some great battles during the race. For sure it's given me more confidence to be more aggressive and to stay in the fight with the other riders. This gives me more confidence that I can bring with me here at this kind of track where it's a bit more difficult for me where we need to learn everything we need to do to stay at the top"
MotoE World Championship
The TV and streaming schedules of the Austrian GP
Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE)
“For sure Silverstone is in the past. Sometimes weekends like this can happen. We were really, really fast during the Friday free practice, during the dry conditions like always. So I was really happy about that. But unfortunately during the qualifying, I crashed. When I arrived at the last sector I found two slow riders and for this reason my tyres were very cold and when I arrived at turn two, I crashed. Luckily nothing changed for Jordi (Torres) or for the riders that crashed at that corner. But you know, I took the penalty .For sure the long lap in every track is different. The most important thing is that from race one to race two, we improved the lap times a lot, so I'm really happy that about that because in race one my pace was really bad. It was really difficult to overtake the other riders and to stay with the other riders. But it's true, the rhythm was better for sure. In the wet, we have to find something a little bit more, but now I'm confident for this weekend that we can start again to fight for the victory.
Every time it's difficult. I watched back the race from last year with Mattia (Casadei) and Eric (Granado) and the last lap was really, really hard. So every time when you are there you have to think in just a few seconds. This is a good track for me. I have to recover some points so for sure I will try to attack, but we also have to think a little bit about the championship, so when we arrive at the last corner we will think about that”.
Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40)
“I always try to perform at my best and Silverstone Race 2 went well and I'm really happy about this. It was the first victory of the year and it was very good for us. I'm very happy to be here in Austria this weekend because I like the track a lot and it's very fun for me to ride here. I want to do a good result here for my team and for my position in the Championship.
I'm thinking about the championship because mathematically it's open. I'll try to push hard and we'll see what happens this weekend."
Randy Krummenacher (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE)
“I think Silverstone was a really important victory for me and for the championship. Even if I lost points in the second race. I'm not really thinking about the championship. Yeah, I said I want to be at the front, but I'm just here trying to push and obviously trying to do it twice and not only one time.
Well, everyone is looking for the limit and the level is quite high, so these small differences can make the difference and give you a tenth or two or three, and that can take you a position or so in front. I think with my team, we found a good base setting where I feel comfortable on the bike and I'm just having that feeling all the time and pushing it more and more. And of course, a victory gives you some extra confidence again and I will try to bring it home again also here.”
Eric Granado (LCR E-Team)
"I'm feeling so good. I'm really happy to be here. It's a track that I really like. Last year was great, in 2021 was great too. So yeah, we've come from a great weekend in Silverstone where I was very competitive in both the dry and wet conditions. It's always amazing to be on the podium in both races on a wet track. The track was very difficult at Silverstone so it was important for me to finish both races and get good points for the championship. So let's see what happens here. Like I say, it's a track that I really like, so I will do my best. I will try to enjoy it as much as I can on the bike and give my maximum on track."
MotoE World Championship
The standings of the 2023 championship
Photos: MotoGP
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