Ferrari claims E-Pole as Granado gets lap cancelled

For the second year in succession, Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) claimed FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup E-Pole at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The Italian’s 1:43.580 at the Gran Premio Lenovo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini was good enough to better Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) by 0.272, with Xavier Simeon (LCR E-Team) completing the front row. However, Ferrari faces a three-place grid penalty for irresponsible riding in Jerez, meaning Casadei will start his home Grand Prix from pole position, promoting Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing) to the front row, as Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) gets his lap cancelled for exceeding track limits.

One again, E-Pole didn’t disappoint as the riders had to get their sole laps absolutely spot on to be in with a shot of the front couple of rows. After the first few riders had set their lap times, it was Niki Tuuli (Avant Ajo MotoE) who was top of the pile. However, Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team) moved the goalposts to beat the Finn by four tenths. Tommaso Marcon (Tech3 E-Racing) then threatened to go provisional pole, but a huge wobble out of the final corner scuppered those chances.

Cup standings leader Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) then went pole, but the Swiss rider wouldn’t stay there after struggling slightly this weekend. Casadei was the first rider to dip into the 1:43s to snatch pole from Aegerter, with Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) unable to nail his lap to slot into P5. Then came home hero Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE), but the Sammarinese rider was out the saddle on the exit of Turn 2, and then again at Turn 3 as the experienced de Angelis wrestled his Energica Ego Corsa around the first sector. Unfortunately, it cost him time and de Angelis will be starting from P16.

Tulovic, the impressive rookie, then went second in the session to demote Aegerter to third. Simeon was then setting red sectors all the way around the lap but Casadei’s final sector was mighty, the Belgian rider going P2 – 0.1 seconds off. Then, it was time for the fastest two riders in Free Practice to strut their stuff at Misano.

Granado went first as he was second to Ferrari in FP3. As expected, the Brazilian was on a blinder and launched himself to pole position by over two tenths. However, drama followed. Granado ran onto the green and exceeded track limits at Turn 15, seeing his lap time getting cancelled – disaster for the Brazilian, who starts from P18. Ferrari made no such mistakes on his qualifying lap though, the Italian beating Casadei by two tenths to pick up another Misano E-Pole.

With Ferrari’s penalty, your front row will be Casadei, Simeon and Tulovic, with Ferrari spearheading Row 2 in P4. Aegerter was 10th in Free Practice but a good lap in E-Pole sees the Swiss man look to defend his title lead from P5. Canepa lines up on the outside of the second row in sixth, with Marcon, Di Meglio and Alessandro Zaccone (Trentino Gresini MotoE) rounding out the top 10.

Tune in for the San Marino MotoE™ race at 10:05 local time (GMT+2)!

Top 10:
1. Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) – 1:43.580*
2. Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 0.272
3. Xavier Simeon (LCR E-Team) + 0.372
4. Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) + 0.447
5. Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) + 0.626
6. Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team) + 0.641
7. Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) + 0.682
8. Tommaso Marcon (Tech 3 E-Racing) + 0.689
9. Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.772
10. Alessandro Zaccone (Trentino Gresini MotoE) + 1.107
*3 place grid penalty for irresponsible riding at the Andalucian GP

Click here for the full results!