Dominique Aegerter secured another podium in Spielberg in the first MotoE race. But Eric Granado is developing into a dangerous adversary.
Domi Aegerter’s lead shrank from 31.5 to 26.5 points thanks to second place in the ninth of twelve MotoE World Cup races this year. But in the last three races tomorrow in Spielberg and on the first weekend in September in Misano, the 31-year-old Swiss should be able to win the title. In the last two years, Aegerter has finished third and second overall in the Dynavolt Intact MotoE team in this electric racing series.
Aegerter only started from fifth on the grid in Spielberg, but fought his way up from lap to lap. In the finish he was only 1.2 seconds behind the Brazilian Eric Granado. “We were pretty strong here, but in qualifying we missed the little thing of 0.2 seconds, which is why we were fifth on the second row of the grid,” said Aegerter. “In the race I was extremely lucky to be able to avoid Matteo Ferrari in the first corner because he was suddenly on the ground right in front of me. As a result, I lost touch with the front group.”
Aegerter continues: «After that, it was difficult to set good lap times. I got into a skirmish with Zannoni; it was not so easy to overtake him. After that I was behind Granado and Casadei. With the MotoE bike it’s very difficult to go much faster than the opponents, so I was only able to catch up slowly. I mightn’t quite catch up until the seventh lap. But then Casadei fell in the penultimate corner. That’s how I gained a position.”
“We tried to make up points on Ferrari and Granado here. But today the Brazilian was faster, he gained 5 points,” said Aegerter. “Now there are still three races to go – and we have a lead of 26.5 points. Tomorrow is another race; we will try once more to fight for a podium. I hope we have good weather and experience decent fights.”
Race Result Spielberg, MotoE, Race 1, August 20th
1. Grenade (BR), 7 laps in 11:55.313 min.
2. Aegerter (CH), + 1,271 sec
3. M. Pons (E), + 1,797
4. Okubo (J), + 3,369
5. Garzo (E), + 3.589
6. A. Writes (E), + 3,619
7. Zannoni, + 3.904
8. Towers (E), + 4,634
9. Fores (E), + 11,745
10. Manfredi (I), + 11.911
11. Maria Herrera (E), +14,111
12. M. Alcoba (E), + 14,245
Cup status (following 9 of 12 races)
1. Aegerter 178 Punkte. 2. Pomegranate 151.5. 2.Ferrari 114.5. 4. Casadei 98. 5. M. Pons 95. 6. Okubo 70.5. 7. Canepa, 70.5. 8. Garzo 70. 9. Zannoni 57.5. 10. A. Write 49.
