MotoE recharges back to life three months after devastating fire
MotoE rises from the ashes as 'pre-season testing' resumes with a new set of Energic Ego electric bikes
THE MotoE project resumes today with the first official group test of its electric racing bikes since the devastating fire that wiped out its entire fleet.
The inaugural season – dubbed the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup - makes use of specification Energica Ego Corsa motorbikes and had been due to start in May at Jerez.
However, the series suffered a dramatic set-back in March when the compound where the 18 bikes and recharging equipment were being housed went up in flames. No-one was injured.
Investigations pointed to a short circuit in the equipment which then intensified when it spread to a charging station containing batteries. No motorbikes were identified as contributing to the fire’s source.
With the planned opening two events at Jerez and Le Mans cancelled as Energica set to work on building new bikes and recreating the destroyed infrastructure, the project is sparking back to life three months on in Valencia today with the resumption of ‘pre-season testing’
In all 12 teams – including five current MotoGP outfits – will enter 18 bikes between them, with two-times MotoGP runner-up Sete Gibernau, MotoGP racer winner Randy de Puniet, Bradley Smith and Maria Herrera among the notable names signed up to compete.
The rescheduled season opener now takes place on July 7 at the Sachsenring, followed by the Red Bull Ring. Misano and Valencia will then host a pair of races each to complete a truncated six-race season. Races are set to be between 7 and 10 laps per race.
The Energica Ego Corsa MotoE bike produces 120kW (160hp/cv) of Maximum Continuous Power to generate 0-60mph in just three seconds, all the way up to a 270km/g (168mph) top speed.
