Mattia Casadei and Eric Granado completed the first official test of the MotoE 2024 at the Portimao circuit. The results for the LCR E-Team riders were positive ahead of the first race of the season, the Portuguese GP.
The LCR E-Team completed three intense days of testing of the MotoE 2024 at the Autodromo do Algarve (Portugal) with Eric Granado and Mattia Casadei. The last time the electric MotoGP class took to the track was in September in Italy, for the 2023 San Marino Grand Prix. On that occasion, Mattia Casadei won the race and achieved the title of MotoE World Champion. Granado, on the other hand, completed his most difficult season in the MotoGP electric class in seventh place, conditioned by a serious injury at the start of the season. A few months later, Casadei and Granado returned to the track to kick off the 2024 season with three days of pre-season testing in Portimao, Portugal. In three weeks, however, the 2024 MotoE World Championship will start right on the Portuguese track.
The 2024 MotoE test of the LCR E-Team in Portimao
Rain and wind characterized two of the three days of the test, putting the Italian team's initial work plans at risk. Despite this, the wet conditions did not prevent the LCR E-team from carrying out their planned work; both riders conducted an intense test on the new Michalin tires and achieved excellent performances, demonstrating that they can fight for the top positions.
On the first day of testing, Casadei achieved the fourth fastest time, four tenths of a second from Spinelli's best time of the day, while Granado finished ninth. The following day it was the Brazilian rider who set the best time among the LCR team riders. But it was the third day, the one in which the riders of Lucio Cecchinello's team achieved the best results. In the race simulation, Mattia Casadei was first and Eric Granado second. Casadei was also the fastest rider of the day.
In the overall ranking of the three days of testing, Casadei finished in fourth place and Granado in seventh.
Both riders will have one more day of testing available, Thursday, 21 March, on the eve of the Portuguese GP, again on the Portimao track, on 22-23 March 2024.
Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team rider)
“It’s been a positive test, I’ve gotten to know the team and felt good on the bike. I’m happy to have joined the LCR E-Team! Things are working well so far, and this is important. We’ve worked hard and seen many interesting things: there is room for improvement, but I believe we will be ready for the first race. Many thanks to the team."
Eric Granado (rider LCR E-Team)
“I'm pleased after these three days. I missed riding my bike, and I needed to get the feeling again after the injury I suffered last year. Michelin and Ducati have done a good job for this season, and I believe the first race will be interesting! I want to thank Lucio and LCR; we've worked well, and I've felt comfortable with the crew”.
MotoE World Championship 2024
The gallery of the test in Portimao
The combined times of the three days of the MotoE test in Portimao
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