MotoE: Granado wins frantic Le Mans race in last corner showdown

Eric Granado won a frantic MotoE race in Le Mans after fighting his way back through the field.

Despite a start from pole, the Brazilian dropped positions early on and had all the work to do. Gradually charging through the pack, Granado wrapped up victory at the final corner.

Alessandro Zaccone was second across the line, but a penalty for exceeding track limits meant he lost a position and gifted the runner-up spot to Mattia Casadei.

The race took off to a frantic start with multiple overtakes through the opening corners that left Alessando Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) in the lead from Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Xavi Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing). While polesitter Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) dropped positions in the early stages, Aegerter capitalised on a mistake by Zaccone to head the field over the line for the first time.

With the riders bunched up, anyone was within contention and Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) delivered an early surprise when he claimed the lead through Turn 7 on the second lap.

The Japanese’ race came to an unfortunate end one lap later though when a desperate manoeuvre from Fermín Aldeguer (OpenBank Aspar Team) into Turn 3 brought them both into the gravel. Aegerter was left in P1 but swiftly had to surrender the position to Zaccone. Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) had worked his way into third while reigning champion Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) was up into fourth.

An eight rider freight train crossed the line into Lap 5 with Granado now the man on the move. The Brazilian had found his rhythm and claimed Torres for fourth before, one lap later, sweeping past Tulovic and taking second off Aegerter at the final corner.

The race reached a dramatic climax on the final lap as Granado and Zaccone rubbed fairings for the lead, but the Italian managed to stay in front. Behind them, Aegerter ran both himself and Tulovic wide, gifting third to Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse).

Granado took his chance through Turn 13 only for Zaccone to immediately sweep back past him again down the inside. Granadao, however, got the cutback through Raccordement and accelerated to victory.

Zaccone took the chequered flag in second, but a penalty for exceeding track limits saw him drop one position into third, leaving runner-up to Casadei. Aegerter came home in fourth ahead of Torres and Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac MotoE).