23/03/2024

Double podium for Garzo & points-scoring start for Tulovic in Portimao

Things could hardly have gone better for the Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE Team in the first two rounds of the 2024 FIM MotoE World Championship. Hector Garzo shone with two-second places, while Lukas Tulovic also celebrated a fitting debut with a fourth and a sixth place.

In both Race 1 and Race 2, Hector Garzo managed to get off to a rocket start from his fourth place on the grid. The Spaniard immediately fought for the race lead both times, even taking the holeshot in the first 7-lap sprint. Close battles for position at the front of both races ultimately pushed the 25-year-old into second place, earning him 20 points twice and putting him just one point behind Matthias Casadei in the championship standings, who won the second race by just 0.066s ahead of Garzo.

For his part, Lukas Tulovic improved over the entire weekend and learnt a lot about the Ducati e-bike, which he is not yet completely familiar with. A number of thrilling duels give the German hope for the upcoming races. The 23-year-old wants to push the limits of the V21L even further but is still very satisfied with fourth place in Race 1 and a further ten points thanks to sixth place in Race 2.

The Memmingen-based MotoE racing team, which leads the team standings after the first weekend, now has some time to catch its breath and sort out its thoughts, as the all-electric racing series will not continue until 10th - 12th of May 2024 in Le Mans, France.

RESULTS

Race 1
1. Nicholas SPINELLI/ ITA
2. Hector GARZO/ SPA – (+0.148)
3. Mattia CASADEI/ ITA – (+0.252)
4. Lukas TULOVIC/ GER – (+3.403)

Race 2
1. Mattia CASADEI/ ITA
2. Hector GARZO/ SPA – (+0.066)
3. Oscar GUTIERREZ/ SPA – (+0.198)
6. Lukas TULOVIC/ GER – (+1.251)

World Championship
1. CASADEI Mattia ITA – 41
2. GARZO Hector SPA – 40
3. SPINELLI Nicholas ITA – 25
4. TULOVIC Lukas/ GER – 23

Team-Championship
1. DYNAVOLT INTACT GP MOTOE – 63
2. LCR E-TEAM – 54
3. OPENBANK ASPAR TEAM – 31

Hector Garzo

Race 1: P2 - (+0.148)
Race 2: P2 - (+0.066)

"I'm very happy with the first races of the new season. I was very consistent, and my aim was to maintain first position and fight for victory right to the finish line, even though overtaking is difficult at this track. So, I just tried to keep the lead and at the same time not to stress the tyres too much. I'm really happy because this is almost the best way to start the season. Hopefully the wins will come soon. A big thank you to the team, the sponsors and everyone else. Portimao was a difficult track with its many uphill and downhill sections, not just for me but for everyone with the heavy MotoE bike, but we managed it well. I'm looking forward to Le Mans, one of my favourite tracks, where I hope we'll be just as competitive."

Lukas Tulovic

Race 1: P4 - (+3.403)
Race 2: P6 - (+1.251)

"I'm very happy with the first race weekend. My goal before the weekend was to finish on the podium, which was no longer realistic after qualifying. That's why my goal was to finish in the top five, and we achieved that. P4 in the first race and P6 in the afternoon are okay. I just need to understand better and learn how to ride the bike at the limit, and the races were really helpful for that. I learned a lot, was in the middle of the pack both times and had some great battles. That one with Jordi Torres in the second race was particularly entertaining. We have to take this with us and start better from the beginning into the weekend at Le Mans, also qualify better and then we can also finish on the podium."

PICTURES MOTOE – SATURDAY PORTIMAO

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