MotoE: Granado Storms to Dominant Victory at Season Opener in Jerez

Eric Granado won the opening MotoE race of the season in Jerez 3.044sec ahead of Matteo Ferrari and Dominique Aegerter who battled for second place until the final corner.

Granado took victory in dominant fashion, but behind him it was not just the Andalusian weather that was scorching.

The six-lap showdown at the Circuito de Jerez produced an exciting but clean race.

The Race as it Happened

Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing) took the holeshot going into Turn 1 from second on the grid ahead of pole sitter Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing). Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) made his way into third while Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) got swallowed into seventh from the front row.

Tulovic’s lead was short-lived though as Granado overtook him only a few corners into the race and swiftly started to check out at the front. Racing got rough behind the two leaders with riders missing their braking markers and rubbing each others’ leathers. As they crossed the line for the first time, Ferrari held on to third ahead of Alejandro Medina (Openbank Aspar Team), Xavier Simeon (LCR E-Team), Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40), Aegerter and Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadrocorse).

With five laps to go Granado continued to break away, his lead already up to 1.5 seconds, while Tulovic started to fall back into the pack and into the clutches of Ferrari. While the Brazilian was in a world of his own, a group of seven riders started to build behind him with the order remaining the same as when they crossed the line after the first lap.

With three laps to go the pack bunched up and Aegerter overtook Torres and Simeon in one go at the Dry Sac corner to move up to fifth. Ahead of them Ferrari closed in on Tulovic and steadily prepared his attack.

As they crossed the line for Lap 5, Ferrari made his move past the German and into second going into the first corner. Aegerter meanwhile made his way up the order and dived underneath Medina to take fourth.

Aegerter looked like a man on a mission and got past Tulovic going into Turn 6 on the final lap. Drama unfolded right behind them in the same corner when Torres pushed Medina wide with the Spaniard almost highsiding and Casadei coming out as the profiteer being promoted into fifth.

Out front Granado was a cut above the rest and crossed the finish line first for a dominant victory. Aegerter attempted a final dive into the Lorenzo corner on Ferrari but had to surrender second to the Italian.

The Full Results

Granado confirmed the untouchable form he displayed in practice and qualifying to win 3.044 ahead of Ferrari. The Italian rode a controlled and smooth race and defended second at the final corner from Aegerter who completed the podium.

Rookie Tulovic had a great MotoE debut in fourth place ahead of Casadei, Torres and Medina who all finished within one second.

Simeon, Josh Hook and Mike di Meglio added to the top 10 with Niki Tuuli, Tommaso Marcon and Niccolo Canepa behind them. Completing the points ranks Xavi Cardelus finished 14^th and Maria Herrera took the final point in 15^th.

Rounding off the order were Jakub Kornfeil and Alex de Angelis who fell back in the classification following a jump start penalty.