The Ducati MotoE takes to the track at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. It is the debut for the electric motorcycle prototype of the Borgo Panigale company, which starting from the 2023 season will be the sole supplier of the motorcycles for the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, replacing another Italian company, Energica, the electric class of the MotoGP World Championship which has been held since 2019.
The new V21L
The code name of the bike is V21L and is the result of the joint work of the Ducati Corse team and the Ducati R&D designers, led by Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director. On the saddle for testing, Michele Pirro, a professional rider and Ducati test rider since 2013 who tested the technical characteristics and potential of the first Ducati electric motorcycle. “We are experiencing a truly extraordinary moment – he said Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director – and I find it hard to believe it is reality and not yet a dream. The first electric Ducati on the track is exceptional not only for its uniqueness but also for the type of challenging undertaking both for its performance objectives and for its extremely short timescales. Precisely for this reason the work of the whole team dedicated to the project was incredible and today’s result repays us for the efforts made in recent months. We are certainly not finished, indeed, we know that the road is still very long, but in the meantime we have laid a first important ‘brick’ ».
Weight and autonomy
The most important challenges in the development of an electric racing motorcycle for Ducati remain related to the size, weight and range of the batteries. The goal is to make electric motorcycles that are highly performing and are characterized by their lightness available to all FIM Enel MotoE World Cup participants. «Test the MotoE prototype on the circuit – he explained Michele Pirro – it was a great emotion, because it marks the beginning of an important chapter in Ducati history. The bike is light and already has a good balance. Furthermore, the gas connection in the first opening phase and the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP. If it weren’t for the silence and for the fact that in this test we decided to limit the power released to just 70% of performance, I would have thought very well that I was riding my bike ».
In the saddle since 2019
The first season of the electric class, officially FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, took place in 2019, accompanying the MotoGP in four European events, for a total of six races. The first winner of the electric motorcycle world cup was the Italian Matteo Ferrari. In reality, there was a lot of Italy in electric motorcycles as from the beginning the sole supplier of the vehicles was an Italian company. Energica was chosen by Dorna as the sole manufacturer of the competition until 2022, with the Ego Corsa. Indeed, the Energica project was launched in 2010 in Modena by the CRP Group, an international player in the field of advanced technology CNC machines and 3D printing.
World 2022
The FIM Enel MotoE World Cup 2022 will therefore be the fourth season of the MotoE World Cup for electric motorcycle racing and will start on April 30 from the Jeres circuit in Spain. Seven total appointments until the closing in Misano on 4 September with the San Marino Grand Prix. While the Italian Grand Prix will be held at Mugello on 28 and 29 May. The standard MotoE races will include two free practice sessions and one qualification on Friday, and two races: one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. The E-Pole will be replaced by more traditional qualifying sessions: Qualifying session format: Q1 (10 minutes) – 10 minute break – Q2 (10 minutes). Among the drivers on the grid, confirmed the winner of the 2020 and 2021 Cups Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40). The Spaniard will be joined by the runner-up in 2021 Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP), the race record holder Eric Granado (LCR E-Team), the 2019 Cup winner Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE), racing Miquel Pons ( LCR E-Team) and Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40). Eleven teams including three Italians: Felo Gresini MotoE, Pramac Racing e Sic58 Racing Team, stable founded by Paolo Simoncelli in honor of his son, Marco Simoncelli.