MotoE: will the Championship twist again at Mugello?
After crashes for Spinelli AND Casadei in Barcelona, there’s been a shake up at the top – and there are two new winners as we roll into Mugello
Round 3 of the 2024 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship saw a seismic shake up in both the standings and the recent form book. Two crashes for winner of three of the first four races, Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing), opened the door for Championship leader Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) to win big on track and in the standings, but the #40’s record-breaking podium streak ended with P6 in Race 1 before he made his first error of the season in Race 2 and crashed out.
In the ensuing battle, Race 1 podium finisher Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) emerged after a stunning, sideways final lap to take his maiden win, and with that the points lead. Race 1 winner, rookie Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI), came home second in the second outing to jump up to third overall. That means Casadei is now sandwiched in second between two riders who had never won before Saturday in Barcelona, with three riders covered by two points. Spinelli is fourth, 13 off the top.
The mission at Mugello will therefore be clear for both Spinelli and Casadei: no more mistakes, and home turf glory. For Zannoni it’s also home turf glory at stake, and a case of pushing to ensure he can stay in that fight at the front consistently after an impressive recent run. The same is true of another Italian, Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing), after he took his first podium since he was fighting for the title in 2021. It was no flash in the pan either as his speed has been building in 2024.
Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) and Andrea Mantovani (KLINT Forward Factory Team) will also want more on home turf, with both enduring tougher seasons so far. The likes of Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) and Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) will want the spoils they missed out on at their own home round too, and Eric Granado (LCR E-Team), after serious speed in Barcelona and a podium in Race 1, will want to bounce back after his Race 2 DNF. The Brazilian’s most recent win was taken at Mugello last season.
There’s everything to play for with four riders split by 13 points, and three riders covered by just two. Who’s coming out on top at Mugello? We’ll find out on Saturday, with Race 1 at 12:15 (UTC +2) and Race 2 at 16:10.
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