This weekend will come to an end the first MotoE World Cup in the Circuit of the Valencian Community – Ricardo Tormo. The championship, which saw how a fire delayed its debut until June in Germany, has already compited 4 races in three different circuits: Sachsenring, Austria and Misano. In Valencia, Avintia Esponsorama Racing riders will race the last two races of the year, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
The Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana was completed in 1999 and held rounds of the MotoGP and Spanish Motorcycle Championships in the same year. The Cheste track has several layouts, running anti-clockwise with varying lengths. MotoGP events are held on a 4km track comprising of five right handed corners, eight left handers and a 876m straight. Although the track is regarded as quite small, the pit complex contains 48 garages whilst the stadium style grandstands can seat up to 150,000 spectators. The circuit layout which allows all parts of the circuit to be seen from any stand helps to create a unique atmosphere enjoyed by Spanish and international riders alike and as the last race of the season there is always a party feeling to the Grand Prix, which was voted best GP of 2005 by IRTA.
With 50 points still to be given and everything to be decided, Xavier Simeon arrives in fifth position in the overall with 45 points only 8 points away of the second and 27 of the leader, Mateo Ferrari. The Belgian rider from the Avintia Esponsorama Racing has been on the podium twice this season, in Austria and in the first race of San Marino. However, Simeon arrives with doubts about how he will be on the bike in Valencia due to an injury suffered training for Bol d’Or in September, just after the San Marino GP.
Eric Granado, on the other hand, arrives in Valencia with his recent renewal for the 2020 season with Avintia Esponsorama Racing. The Brazilian has suffered this season more than expected in his adaptation to MotoE and, before the dispute of the Valencia races, arrives as 13th in the overall with 21 points. Granado won in the simulation race that was held in the Cheste circuit itself in mid-June so he arrives with high expectations since, if he performes well in both races, he could do a step forward in the tight middle zone of the classification.
“After the crash in Bol d’Or I don’t know how I will be physically this weekend. I tried everything on my part to be at my best and the truth is that I am very strong mentally and eager to fight that small possibility that we still have to be the first champion in the history of MotoE. We will try to fight for the podium and why not for the victory. The question mark will be to know how I will be on the bike, but when you put your helmet you often forget these things and I hope this time it will be like this too and I can do my best on the bike. ”
“I am quite motivated and happy. This time I am 100% physically and recovered from the shoulder injury. We race in Cheste this weekend, a circuit where we have very good memories and where we did very well in the test race. I hope to adapt to the conditions of the track that will probably be quite different from when we’ve been there by June time. I want to prepare for the races and get the best possible position on E-Pole, something very important because they are two races. I will give the maximum from the first training to the last race to finish the season in the best way ”.
