DOHA: Fermin Aldeguer (OpenBank Aspar Team) is the rider to beat in MotoE after the rookie Spaniard took a maiden E-Pole at the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix of Austria, putting in a a 1:35.306 to beat Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing) by just 0.047.
Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian Gresini E-Racing MotoE) continued his step forward in speed to get back on the front row in third… and as some other key players in the standings faltered on a Saturday with some surprises.
Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) was the first rider to break the 1:36 barrier in E-Pole, taking over on top and managing to hold off a number of challengers, including current Cup leader Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) by just 0.005.
And try as they might, it took until Ferrari, Tulovic and Aldeguer to leapfrog the Japanese rider, so he starts fourth.
Zaccone lines up fifth, and the furthest forward of the top four in the points. Xavi Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama) completes that second row alongside the points leader, with Zaccone’s closest challenger in the standings heading Row 3 in seventh: Jordi Torres (HP Pons 40).
He’s just ahead of Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP), with both struggling to make their mark on Saturday. Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac MotoE) completes that third row, and Barcelona winner Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) the top ten.
