The 2024 season of MotoE kicked off last weekend with the Portuguese GP in Portimao. After the two races held at the Autodromo do Algarve, the reigning world champion, Mattia Casadei, is the standings' leader.
The MotoE races in Portugal of the LCR E-Team riders – Last weekend, the MotoE took part in 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.
Thanks to the pole position achieved on Friday, it was Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) who started from first position on the grid in both races. Together with the Brazilian rider, Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) and the reigning world champion, Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team), started on the front row, one-tenth from the pole position of his teammate.
After a not the best start, Eric Granado returned to the front, taking advantage of his speed Ducati on the long Portimao straight. Behind him, Casadei took second position, and the two LCR riders attempted to create a gap between them and the rest of the group. The operation seemed feasible for a moment until Granado fell at turn 14. The race lead was taken by Casadei, who finished in third place after a thrilling battle with Spinelli, winner of the race, and Hector Garzò (Dynavolt Intact GP).
In Race 2 it was Spinelli who had the holeshot and arrived first at turn 1, followed by Garzò, Granado, Casadei and Torres (Openbank Aspar Team). This time, it was Spinelli's turn to fall and abandon the race. The leading group at that point remained with five riders: Garzò, Casadei, Granado, Torres and Gutierrez. On the last lap, Casadei was first to enter turn 1 ahead of Garzò; from then on, the Italian rider closed all the lines, entered the final straight first, and won his first race of 2024. Eric Granado took fourth place in a good race, obtaining important points after the crash in Race 1. The LCR team thus leaves Portugal, having achieved the first victory in the 2024 season of the MotoE, two podiums and a pole position.
Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team)
“I’m thrilled; it’s been an amazing day. I want to thank the team for their incredible job. I felt good on the bike and enjoyed every lap of the two races. The podium this morning was great, but getting the victory in the afternoon was something else. Many thanks to everybody who supported us."
Eric Granado (LCR E-Team)
“I’ve got mixed feelings today. We felt good, started from pole position, and had the potential to fight for the victory or at least the podium. We were unlucky in the morning, as I crashed when I was leading the race. Then, in Race 2, I wanted to fight again, and I finally ended XNUMXth. We’ll try again, as this year we want to do a great job. I thank the team for their job this weekend."
MotoE World Championship
The standings of the MotoE 2024
MotoE World Championship
The results of the 2024 Portuguese GP
Photos: MotoGP & LCR E-Team
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