until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
This week has seen Ducati’s new as-yet-unnamed MotoE machine break cover for the first time in private testing at Misano, showing just how ahead of the curve the Italian manufacturer is as it prepares to replace Energica as the electric series’ sole manufacturer from 2023 onwards.
When Ducati was announced back in September as the series’ new manufacturer, comments made at the time by CEO Claudio Domenicalli suggested that the first prototype version of its first electric sportsbike was a long way away.
However, that clearly isn’t the case, with MotoGP test rider Michele Pirro debuting a fairly complete-looking machine this week at Misano – and coming away very impressed with his first taste of electric power.
“Testing the MotoE prototype on the circuit was a great thrill,” he said afterwards, “because it marks the beginning of an important chapter in Ducati history. The bike is light and already has a good balance.
“Furthermore, the throttle connection in the first opening phase and the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP bike.
“If it weren’t for the silence and for the fact that, in this test, we decided to limit the power output to just 70% of performance, I could easily have imagined that I was riding my [MotoGP] bike.”
And while the team is insisting that this is very much a first prototype and not even close to the finished race bike let alone the road-going derivative that Ducati has confirmed it will put into production at some point in the future, Pirro’s comments on weight in particular will be met with a sigh of relief by many.
What comes next remains to be seen exactly, but according to Roberto Cane, Ducati’s eMobility director, there’s still plenty more work to be done in the coming months.
“We are experiencing a truly extraordinary moment,” he enthused. “I find it hard to believe it is reality and still not a dream!
“The first electric Ducati on the track is exceptional not only for its uniqueness but also for the type of undertaking: challenging both for its performance objectives and for its extremely short timescales.
“Precisely for this reason, the work of the whole team dedicated to the project has been incredible and today’s result repays us for the efforts made in recent months.
“We are certainly not finished yet; indeed, we know that the road ahead is still very long, but in the meantime, we have laid a first important ‘brick’.”
