Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) stole the show to become the first ever FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup E-Pole sitter after setting a 1:27.456 at the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, a time 0.787 quicker than second place Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) as 0.011 splits the latter from third place Eric Granado (Avinita Esponsorama Racing).
Your first ever #MotoE polesitter! ????@NikiTuuli makes history at the Sachsenring! ????#GermanGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/bQkpOZowu9
— MotoGP™ ???????? (@MotoGP) July 6, 2019
It was a historic day at the Sachsenring as we witnessed the first ever E-Pole take place in perfect conditions. The riders headed out for three laps, one warm-up lap, one flying lap and one cool down lap, with the slowest rider in Free Practice going out first as the order descended from bottom to top. After Maria Herrera (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) was black flagged for leaving pitlane too early, it was Randy De Puniet (LCR E-Team) who set the first time – a 1:31.479.
It was a time that would be beaten immediately though as the 18-riders set about trying to nail a single flying lap. Xavier Simeon’s (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) 1:28.389 was over a second quicker than his Free Practice time as the Belgian set a very decent benchmark, before Granado beat Simeon by just over a tenth to go provisional P1. Garzo then topped the Brazilian by a slender 0.011 before Tuuli rolled out of pitlane.
???? @hector_garzo goes top by the narrowest of margins!
— MotoGP™ ???????? (@MotoGP) July 6, 2019
Next to run: @NikiTuuli! ⏩#GermanGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/czcut3k3Er
The Finnish rider was 0.181 under Garzo’s time in sector one, with Tuuli then blitzing the second sector to give himself an incredible 0.6 buffer. And Tuuli kept going, taking provisional E-Pole by 0.787. Free Practice leader Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was now the only rider who could deny Tuuli of E-Pole, but could the Frenchman do it? The answer was no, with the 2008 125cc World Champion having to settle for P4.
This pushed Simeon down to P5, with Trentino Gresini MotoE’s Matteo Ferrari completing the second row. Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) will lineup in seventh for the first MotoE™ race, the British rider is joined by 2011 125cc World Champion Nico Terol (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) and the experienced Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE). Matteo Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) completes the first ever E-Pole top ten.
What a lap from @NikiTuuli to go top! ????@mikedimeglio63 is the last rider to run! ????#GermanGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/n8bK2v1h5v
— MotoGP™ ???????? (@MotoGP) July 6, 2019
Tune in for the first ever MotoE™ race as 18 Energica Ego Corsas go head-to-head at 10:00 local time (GMT+2) on Sunday morning.
Top 10:
1. Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) – 1:27.456
2. Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) + 0.787
3. Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) + 0.798
4. Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.928
5. Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) + 0.933
6. Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) + 1.336
7. Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) + 1.402
8. Nico Terol (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) + 1.526
9. Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) + 2.097
10. Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 2.449
Click here for the full results!