For the first time since its launch as a World Cup in 2019, MotoE will be treated as a FIM World Championship starting this year. This isn’t the only significant change in the competition, as Ducati has been chosen as the sole supplier of the fully electric motorcycles that will make up the grid.
Michelin has developed a new range of tires specifically for this competition, using a high percentage of sustainable materials. The new front tire is lighter and incorporates a new casing aimed at improving performance, while in the case of the new rear compound, the proportion of sustainable, renewable or organic materials has increased to 52%. These raw materials include natural rubber, recycled tires, orange and lemon peels, pine resin, sunflower oil and recycled steel.
Piero Taramaso, Director of Michelin Motorsport, explains, “The Michelin Group is committed to using exclusively sustainable materials for the manufacture of all its tires by 2050. We aim to accelerate the process through competitive, organic materials Using, Recycling and Recovering”. “For us, MotoE is the ideal setting to introduce innovative solutions. Life cycle analysis of our MotoE tires from design to recycling revealed that 75% of their environmental impact is due to the materials they are made from. It is a sensible idea to be able to compete with tires that incorporate bio-based, recycled and reclaimed materials without adversely affecting other aspects of the cycle. The fact that adoption is declining year on year, has encouraged us to increase the proportion of sustainable materials by 2023.
Like last season, Michelin will provide the MotoE teams with a one-of-a-kind front and rear slick compound. Drivers will be able to use up to five front and six rear tires per race weekend. A specialized and particularly versatile tire for rain is also made available to the teams; In this case, three front and four rear tires can be used.
Events on the MotoE calendar will be held within the framework of the MotoGP Grand Prix, which consists of two races (usually eight laps depending on the circuit) of approximately 15 minutes each, followed by three free practice sessions and a qualifying session.
The grid for the 2023 MotoE season will feature nine teams and 18 riders. Among them is two-time category champion Jordi Torres, who will be part of the OpenBank Esper team. He will be one of six Spaniards on the grid, along with Hector Garzo, Mikel Ponce, María Herrera, Mika Pérez and 2014 Moto2 world champion Tito Rabat to join the ranks. Other rookies to keep an eye on will be Randy Krummenacher who has raced in 125cc, Moto2, WorldSSP and WorldSBK, and Italian Luca Salvadori.
The season started with the French Grand Prix at the Le Mans circuit from 12 to 14 May. Afterwards, the championship will move to other tracks such as Mugello, Sachsenring, Assen, Silverstone, Spielberg, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalonia and Misano, where the season will end in September.
