MotoE 2022 - Marc Alcoba was the rookie who showed the best adaptation and growth in the MotoGP electric class. In the last two rounds at Mugello and Assen, the Spaniard of the Openbank Aspar team was fighting with the top riders of the MotoE.
The MotoE World Cup 2022 has concluded its first part of the season and entered the summer break, before concluding with the last two rounds in Austria and San Marino. In the first races of this year, Marc Alcoba was the rookie who showed the best adaptation and growth in the MotoGP electric class.
The Spanish rider of the Openbank Aspar team had only a few sessions available to familiarize himself with the MotoE last winter, due to the rain that often fell in Jerez during the pre-season tests. So the first races were the moment that Alcoba used to get to know the MotoE and develop the riding style necessary to be fast with the Energica Ego Corsa. This cost the Spaniard some crashes, such as the one in race 1 at Jerez and in race 2 at Le Mans, but his efforts were rewarded in the two races at Mugello where Alcoba finished third (then penalized to seventh position for a infringement) and fifth. Alcoba's performance at Assen was also impressive, with the Openbank Aspar team rider constantly fighting with the top five in both races.
Before the Austrian round which will take place at the end of August, we spoke with the Spaniard to understand how he faced this first part of the championship.
1 - Marc, first of all, what is your general impression of the MotoE World Cup?
“My opinion is very positive. It is a difficult bike to ride, but I am happy because I adapted well, the feeling increased race after race up to the point of fighting for the top positions in the last few races. I imagined a easier bike, but the truth is that the MotoE has its tricks and its techniques and if you don't apply them you can't be fast. You need to understand and adapt to the weight, the great inertia of the bike and the power output, especially at low rpm.
For me, as a rookie, it is important to have achieved this growth especially in a year in which the championship is at the highest level since its debut. In every race there are many riders fighting for the podium and the gap between the riders has never been so small. It was not easy to reach this level, it was necessary to work hard. I have continually believed in myself to achieve this goal."
2 - In MotoE is it more important to work on the set-up of the bike or on the riding style?
“The rider plays an important role in MotoE, it's a bike that has nothing to do with the bikes I've ridden so far and so it was necessary to adapt a lot to the bike. At that point, when a good level of performance is reached, it is necessary to work on the bike in order to reach the victory or the podium."
MotoE World Cup 2022
The World Cup standings
3 - What has been your favorite race so far?
“Well, I would say that it's hard choosing between Mugello and Assen. At Mugello it was the first time I could be myself, where I was able to show my true potential and have fun like I hadn't done for a long time. I was back in the right place, that is to fight for the top positions. There I got my first podium in MotoE and also the first historic podium for the Openbank Aspar team. In Assen I managed to be fast in the same way even if I didn't qualify at all well but in the race I reached the top positions showing great pace and speed. But anyway, my best race is yet to come.”
MotoE World Cup 2022
The gallery of the Dutch GP of MotoE in Assen
4 - Where should we expect it: at the Red Bull Ring or at Misano?
“I have never raced in Austria, it will be a new track for me, while in Misano I was already there last year in WorldSSP and I did a great performance. However, the goal is the same for both tracks: to continue to grow, to be in the leading positions in every race and to be able to get on the podium."
5 - What are your plans for next year? You will stay and ride the Ducati MotoE?
“Now that I have been able to try the MotoE and see what the potential is for the future, my goal for next year is to have a winning project; I am evaluating the various possibilities. The new Ducati MotoE is very tempting and will be a revolution for the category and for the future of electric motorcycles, which is why it is certainly one of the options I have in mind and which I will evaluate together with others options.”
MotoE World Cup 2023
The unveiling of the V21L, Ducati's electric motorcycle.
Photos: MotoGP
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