MotoE News: Niki Tuuli first ever MotoE pole sitter
Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) stole the show to become the first ever FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup E-Pole sitter at the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, the only man in the 1:27s after setting a 1:27.456 to end the session nearly eight tenths clear of the competition. That competition comes from Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) in second and Eric Granado (Avinita Esponsorama Racing) in third, with the two split by just 0.011 as they once again showed their impressive pace in the new Cup.
It was a historic day at the Sachsenring as the first ever E-Pole session got underway, with riders getting only one shot at a fast lap. Everything rests on one out-lap, one flying lap and one in-lap, and some familiar names are on the front row. But right behind them it was Friday’s fastest Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) who took P4, only 0.005 ahead of a huge improvement in laptime from Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) in fifth as the Belgian rider cut more than a second off his fastest lap from Friday. Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) locks out Row 2.
Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) spearheads the third row in seventh after ending the session 0.066 off Ferrari, with Nico Terol (Openback Angel Nieto Team) a tenth behind him and the two joined on the row by Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE). Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) completes the top ten, getting the better of Lorenzo Savadori (Trentino Gresini MotoE) by just half a tenth.
Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team), Sete Gibernau (Join Contract Pons 40) and Kenny Foray (Tech 3 E-Racing) are up next, ahead of Randy De Puniet (LCR E-Team), who set the first time, and Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE).
Maria Herrera (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) was black flagged for leaving pitlane too early and sadly missed the chance to set a lap, with Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt Intact GP) later doing the opposite and missing his window. Raffin will start ahead of Herrera but both at the back of the grid.
MotoE Qualifying:
- Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) – 1:27.456
- Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) + 0.787
- Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) + 0.798
- Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.928
- Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) + 0.933
- Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) + 1.336
- Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) + 1.402
- Nico Terol (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) + 1.526
- Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) + 2.097
- Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) + 2.449