Smith tops first FIM Enel MotoE World Cup test

Former MotoGP rider One Energy Racing’s Bradley Smith led the way of the first official MotoE test at Jerez as drivers and teams all sampled the electric bike machinery.

It was the first time all teams and riders tested the all-electric bikes together.

Smith, who has started 104 MotoGP races, set the pace over the three-day test at the Spanish circuit with a time of 1m50.265s – almost four tenths ahead of Niki Tuuli.

EG 0.0 Marc VDS’s Mike di Meglio was third with Matteo Casadei fourth.

Only the top four riders dipped under the 1m50s mark, with Trentino Gresini MotoE’s Matteo Ferrari posting a 1m51.648 for fifth place.

Pace setter Smith said: “I’m very happy with the work we’ve done today. We set a fast lap in the morning session, and I’ve felt better and better with the bike.

“In the afternoon we had mixed conditions on track, and it was good to have references for mapping and try out different setups to see what else we can work on for next March.

“In the last session there were a lot of puddles; we went out with slicks and were very competitive again. I’m very satisfied with this first test, as we have always been among the fastest riders and we have more and more knowledge about the bike.”

The next MotoE test takes place in Jerez in March with the season beginning at the same circuit on May 5, 2019.

The FIM Enel MotoE World Cup will then visit Le Mans, Sachsenring, Red Bull Ring and Misano, which will be a double header, to complete the six-race schedule.

Photo courtesy of One Energy Racing