MotoE: Inaugural grid starting to take shape

Grand Prix racing’s inaugural electric bike series is starting to take shape, with the MotoE team line-up and 2019 calendar announced at the San Marino Grand Prix. The new class will run a five-race series in 2019 with bikes run by MotoGP’s independent teams and a select few Moto2 and Moto3 teams – although news on riders remains to be confirmed.

The season will stick to Europe for its inaugural year, due in part to the complication of the single-manufacturer Energica Ego bikes and their batteries by air. The season will start alongside MotoGP’s first European race of next season at Jerez, before heading to Le Mans, Sachsenring, Red Bull Ring and Misano.

The first news on 2019 riders for the series is expected to be announced next time out in Aragon, but a number of top names have already been linked to the class. Former MotoGP front runners and ex-world champions like Randy De Puniet, Nico Terol and Alex De Angelis are keen to line up on the grid for the first race in Spain next season.

There might be British interest in the class as well, with Bradley Smith admitting at the weekend that he’s keen to find a space on the grid if it doesn’t clash with his new Aprilia testing duties.

“It’s something that’s in consideration but it’s far from being finalised just because we need to see when I’m making my Aprilia wildcards. Under the rules, you can’t do two races in one day and Aprilia is my priority. If it works and everything fits, that’s great, but if it doesn’t I’m happy to keep working on my MotoGP project with them.”