Andddd we are on! The 2024 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship started on Friday in Portugal, as the electric series hit Portugal for the first time since its creation. Portimao is the first of the eight stops of the MotoE™ championship this year, as the format remains the same as last season, meaning that Fridays will see riders go through two practice sessions in the mornings, before the qualifying shootout in the afternoons. Saturdays will again see MotoE™ riders race two times, as the championship counts a total of sixteen races. After a positive pre-season a few weeks ago at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Tech3 E-Racing 2024 line up led by Italians Alessandro Zaccone and Nicholas Spinelli, finally started their new campaign.
PRACTICES
The electric class was the first one to open the festivities in Portimao on Friday morning at 8:30 local time, but the bad track conditions left by the sandy rain from overnight did not give much time on track to the riders. New recruit Nicholas Spinelli tried to go out, but quickly returned to the pitlane as he did not think it was necessary to take risks in the opening session. Teammate Alessandro Zaccone went out and rode 7 laps, to top Practice 1 with a 2’01.198. Later on, after Moto3™, Moto2™ and MotoGP™ dried the track, better conditions were waiting for Tech3 E-Racing riders for the second practice. Zaccone managed to improve his lap time to a 1’47.630 and took P3 in the combined standing, and Spinelli was just ahead with a 1’47.585, in P2. Both qualified directly for Q2.
QUALIFYING
Joined by Miguel Pons and Lukas Tulovic coming from Q1, Tech3 E-Racing boys Spinelli and Zaccone disputed their first qualifying of 2024, and the first in Portugal. The competition was high with all the big names targeting the first pole at stake. Spinelli’s early 1’46.537 placed him provisionally on the front row, behind Eric Granado, a position that he kept until the end! Good start to the season for Spinelli who will start both races of the Portuguese Grand Prix from the front row, in P2. Zaccone was not far behind, but all riders were very close. The number 61 was behind his teammate, and was followed by Hector Garzo, who got the best of him. Still, Zaccone took P5 with a 1’46.775, and will start from the second row as he targets his first podium with Tech3 E-Racing. Don’t miss the two first MotoE™ races of 2024 on Saturday, with race 1 at 12:15 local time, and race 2 at 16:10.
Nicholas Spinelli
"I am happy with our position on the grid. We had a great day, we felt good all day today, our pace is strong, but the important day will be tomorrow. We have the potential to have a strong Saturday, so let’s give our best on track!”
Alessandro Zaccone
"We had a good Friday here in Portimao, with a very fast lap in qualifying, which I did not expect because the track was not perfect. Overall, I am happy, we improved a lot in our time! We have a few improvements to make for tomorrow, but we are in the game, so let’s keep this feeling and try to have a good Saturday!"
