The World Cup is set for a thrilling conclusion after Granado’s sweep of the penultimate round of the season
It’s absolutely game on in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup after the LCR E-Team’s Eric Granado made it two wins from two races at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. The Brazilian’s double triumph at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg means he trails Dominque Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) by just 17.5 points with 50 on offer in the sixth and final round of the season at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Aegerter finished third in Race 2 in Austria thanks to a final-corner pass, while Miquel Pons helped the LCR E-Team to a one-two in the seven-lap contest.
Granado fights back after a tricky first lap
Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) got the holeshot from the middle of the front row and Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) passed pole-sitter Granado for second at Turn 1. Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) lunged at both Granado and Pons at Turn 3, but Granado had the better exit and would emerge still in third place. Down at Turn 4, Aegerter very nearly crashed under brakes, but held on to his Energica Ego Corsa and also to sixth spot.
Granado overtook Ferrari at the start of Lap 3, and was quickly onto the tail of Casadei in the battle for the lead. He made his move through Turn 6 on Lap 4, but Casadei stuck with him. The man who fell – literally – two corners short of victory in Race 1 on the afternoon prior then tried to reclaim first position from Granado at the start of the seventh and final lap of Race 2, but could not make the pass stick.
A crucial victory for the Brazilian
In the meantime, Aegerter had climbed to fourth, despite running well wide at Turn 1 on Lap 6 – showing all of his usual late-race speed. Still, Granado could take comfort from the fact that LCR team-mate Pons had himself risen to third, and was therefore soaking up precious World Cup points. Pons would have another four points of his own when he eventually completed a final-lap pass for second place on Casadei through Turn 6.
However, that was not the end of the story. Aegerter was searching for a podium result of his down and while Casadei was defensive when they arrived at Turn 9, he could not keep the Swiss rider behind him at the final corner of the…