The 2024 season of MotoE kicks off this weekend with the Portuguese GP in Portimao. In the first qualifying session of the season, the Brazilian rider was the fastest, taking pole position ahead of Nicholas Spinelli and teammate, Mattia Casadei.
The pole position of MotoE in Portimao – This weekend, the MotoE starts with the Portuguese GP, the first round of the 2024 season of the electric MotoGP category, the sixth since its debut and the second with World Championship status.
At the Autodromo do Algarve, Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) will start from pole position thanks to a record lap of 1:46.470. Together with the Brazilian, Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) and the reigning world champion, Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) will also start on the front row.
The Q1 results of the Portuguese GP of MotoE in Portimao
The qualifying session began with Q1, in which, surprisingly, Matteo Ferrari (FELO Gresini MotoE) participated. The winner of the 2019 season started in the lead, ahead of Andrea Mantovani (Klint Forward Racing), but after two laps, it was Miquel Pons (Axxis-Msi) who set the best time of Q1, in 1:47.213, ahead of Lukas Tulovic (Dynavolt Intact GP). Ferrari, one of the favourites of the MotoE 2024, will, therefore, start from the fourth row in the two races on Saturday.
Below are the Q1 times MotoE for the Portuguese GP in Portimao:
| POS. | N. | Nat. | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77 |  |
Miquel Pons | Axxis-MSI | 1'47.213 | |
| 2 | 3 |  |
Lukas Tulovic | Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™ | 1'47.406 | 0,193 |
| 3 | 11 |  |
Matteo Ferrari | Felo Gresini MotoE™ | 1'47.620 | 0,407 |
| 4 | 55 | |
Massimo Roccoli | Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse | 1'47.973 | 0,760 |
| 5 | 9 | |
Andrea Mantovani | Klint Forward Factory Team | 1'48.123 | 0,910 |
| 6 | 72 | |
Alessio Finello | Felo Gresini MotoE™ | 1'48.249 | 1,360 |
| 7 | 34 | |
Kevin Manfredi | Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse | 1'48.647 | 1,434 |
| 8 | 7 |  |
Chaz Davies | Aruba Cloud MotoE™ Racing Team | 1'49.023 | 1,810 |
| 9 | 80 | |
Armando Pontone | Aruba Cloud MotoE™ Racing Team | 1'49.469 | 2,256 |
| 10 | 6 | |
Maria Herrera | Klint Forward Factory Team | 1'50.191 | 2,298 |
The Q2 results of the Portuguese GP of MotoE in Portimao
Excluded Ferrari from the match, all the other top riders of the MotoE, plus the rookie Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-Msi), took the track in Q2 to conquer the first pole position of 2024. Mattia Casadei, the reigning world champion, recorded the first best lap immediately at the first lap, in 1:46.847. Casadei improved by almost three-tenths on the following lap, but Eric Granado appeared behind him and lowered his teammate's time by more than a tenth. Granado took the lead in Q2 with a time of 1:46.470, ahead of Nicholas Spinelli and Mattia Casadei.
The only one who seemed capable of gaining the front row was Hector Garzò (Dynavolt Intact GP), but the Valencia rider missed a good opportunity due to traffic on the track during his fastest lap.
After a tire-cooling lap, Casadei and Spinelli returned to the attack on Granado's pole position. Both set the best times in the first sectors, but in the fourth sector, they lost all their advantage and the possibility of taking pole position for the Portuguese GP.
Eric Granado remained first at the end of Q2, obtaining his ninth pole position in MotoE.
Below are the Q2 times and the MotoE starting grid of the Portuguese GP in Portimao:
| POS. | N. | Nat. | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 |  |
Eric Granado | LCR E-Team | 1'46.470 | 0,067 |
| 2 | 29 | |
Nicholas Spinelli | Tech3 E-Racing | 1'46.537 | 0,116 |
| 3 | 40 | |
Mattia Casadei | LCR E-Team | 1'46.586 | 0,293 |
| 4 | 4 | |
Hector Garzo | Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™ | 1'46.763 | 0,305 |
| 5 | 61 | |
Alessandro Zaccone | Tech3 E-Racing | 1'46.775 | 0,320 |
| 6 | 99 | |
Oscar Gutierrez | Axxis-MSI | 1'46.790 | 0,563 |
| 7 | 81 | |
Jordi Torres | Openbank Aspar Team | 1'47.033 | 0,739 |
| 8 | 3 | |
Lukas Tulovic | Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™ | 1'47.209 | 0,937 |
| 9 | 21 | |
Kevin Zannoni | Openbank Aspar Team | 1'47.407 | 0,959 |
| 10 | 77 | |
Miquel Pons | Axxis-MSI | 1'47.429 | |
| 11 | 11 | |
Matteo Ferrari | Felo Gresini MotoE™ | 1'47.620 | |
| 12 | 55 | |
Massimo Roccoli | Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse | 1'47.973 | |
| 13 | 9 | |
Andrea Mantovani | Klint Forward Factory Team | 1'48.123 | |
| 14 | 72 | |
Alessio Finello | Felo Gresini MotoE™ | 1'48.249 | |
| 15 | 34 | |
Kevin Manfredi | Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse | 1'48.647 | |
| 16 | 7 | |
Chaz Davies | Aruba Cloud MotoE™ Racing Team | 1'49.023 | |
| 17 | 80 | |
Armando Pontone | Aruba Cloud MotoE™ Racing Team | 1'49.469 | |
| 18 | 6 | |
Maria Herrera | Klint Forward Factory Team | 1'50.191 |
MotoE World Championship 2024
The schedule of the 2024 MotoE Portuguese GP
MotoE World Championship
The essential kit of the MotoE 2024
Photos: MotoGP
News and insights on Epaddock
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