The struggle for victory got here all the way down to the ultimate corners and it was Casadei who survived
Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) has change into an FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup race winner after he noticed off a critical problem from Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) in Race 1 on the SHARK Grand Prix de France. Zannoni threw every little thing into his bid for victory, however hit the deck on the ultimate lap when he requested an excessive amount of of his entrance tyre at Flip 13.
Drama within the opening corners
There was drama as quickly because the race began when Casadei’s team-mate Jordi Torres fell within the pack because the they exited the Flip 3/Flip 4 chicane. Torres’ leg was run over initially by Niccolo Canepa (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Crew) after which Xavi Fores (Octo Pramac MotoE™), neither of whom had been capable of keep away from the stricken Spaniard, earlier than being stretchered from the scene. He was taken to the medical centre and preliminary studies are, fortunately, that he’s not severely injured.
A duel develops on the entrance
The web results of a hair-raising opening lap was that Casadei led Zannoni, Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE™), and Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™). Casadei regarded like he would possibly break free however was reeled in by Zannoni because the eight-lap contest reached its midway mark.
After biding his time for a handful of laps, the SIC58 rider had an enormous have a look at the Pons pilot as they sped by the Flip 1/Flip 2 sweeper for the ultimate time. Casadei fended off that assault however Zannoni didn’t hand over, till his problem got here to an finish when he folded the entrance of his Energica Ego Corsa on the penultimate nook of the race.
Casadei received by 0.8 seconds whereas Aegerter claimed second after passing Okubo at Flip 3 on the second-last lap. Okubo was a maiden podium finisher in third, simply forward of Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™), Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing), Miquel Pons, and Eric Granado. The latter two, team-mates on the LCR E-Crew, had managed to remain upright regardless of contact exiting Flip 14 within the closing phases of the race.
Canepa made the chequered flag in eighth place, Andrea Mantovani (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Crew) took ninth, and Alex Escrig (Tech3 E-Racing) was tenth all-told. Escrig had run as excessive as fourth within the early phases however misplaced three spots when he ran lengthy at Chemin aux Boeufs (Flip 9/Flip 10) on Lap 2, then needed to serve an extended lap penalty for the shortcut. Fores ended up twelfth and Zannoni was categorised a finisher, however in sixteenth.
The World Cup standings tighten up
Granado received each races in Spherical 1 of the season on the Spanish Grand Prix, however his lead within the MotoE™ World Cup standings has now been reduce to 6 factors, with Aegerter second and Casadei 12 factors additional again in third.
Will they make up extra floor, or can the Brazilian struggle again? Tune in for Race 2 on Sunday at 15:30 (GMT +2).
1. Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) – 8 laps
2. Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE) + 0.826
3. Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) + 1.223
4. Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE) + 1.701
5. Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) + 5.754
