Gresini unveils MotoE project, Ferrari

Gresini Racing has named Matteo Ferrari as its first rider for the new FIM MotoE World Cup, plus title sponsorship from Trentino during a presentation today at Trento’s Palazzo delle Albere. 

Ferrari was European Moto3 champion in 2012 before racing in the world championship for the next three years, with a best finish of ninth at the 2014 German Moto3 Grand Prix.

Gresini unveils MotoE project, Ferrari

Gresini Racing has named Matteo Ferrari as its first rider for the new FIM MotoE World Cup, plus title sponsorship from Trentino during a presentation today at Trento’s Palazzo delle Albere. 

Ferrari was European Moto3 champion in 2012 before racing in the world championship for the next three years, with a best finish of ninth at the 2014 German Moto3 Grand Prix.

Currently racing in the Italian CIV Superbike championship, Ferrari will be joined in the electric bike class by a to-be-announced second 'Team Trentino Gresini' rider.

"It’s really exciting to be taking part in this new World Cup," Ferrari said.

"I’m very motivated also because I’ll be among the youngest riders in this class; this is great challenge and an important opportunity to go back to the world championship with such a great outfit like Gresini Racing.

"The bike is yet to be discovered but we will get to work during the first tests at Jerez. This is a great change for me and I will try my best to make the most of it.”

Ferrari joins Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt) and Nico Terol (Angel Nieto) in being confirmed on the inaugural MotoE grid, with riders such as Bradley Smith and Troy Corser also showing an interest.

"We are the first to introduce ourselves to this new category as a team and no other place would have been better to do so than Trento," said team manager Fausto Gresini. "This is a very new project and I’m proud to be part of it and to do so from the very beginning. Environmental awareness is key for our present and future.

"As team Gresini we are very attentive to this area and we would like this championship to grow and consolidate in the future. For us it will be a completely new challenge: I would like to get to know this bike as much as Matteo does: he is a young and fast rider who is used to racing at important levels so we hope he’ll get used to this new and different motorcycle.”

MotoE will have a five-round calendar at selected MotoGP events in 2019: Jerez, Le Mans, Sachsenring, Spielberg and Misano.

The first shakedown test for the new bikes will be held on November 23-25 at Jerez.

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