MotoE loses all 18 Energica Ego Corsas in Jerez paddock fire

The FIM Enel MotoE World Cup (MotoE) is a one-make, all-electric motorcycle race which is being launched this 2019 season. It was scheduled to run alongside MotoGP at five venues in Europe. However, its season opener at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Spain in May has been canceled due to a recent fire that burned down MotoE’s brand new paddock. All of MotoE’s 18 Energica Ego Corsa race bikes and the charging infrastructure, which were in Jerez for pre-season testing, were damaged or destroyed in the blaze.

The 12 teams slated to compete in MotoE were at Jerez to join a three-day test ahead of the campaign. The fire broke out a little past midnight, early March 14, 2019, and the organizers clarified in a statement that “no motorcycles were charging at the time of the incident in the box in which the fire started. While the investigation is still ongoing, MotoGP released initial findings pointing to a short circuit as the fire’s main cause. The source of the short circuit has not been determined, but the fire ignited the high-performance charging system’s high-density battery.

MotoE was supposed to hold its inaugural race on May 5 at Jerez. This will no longer be the case. However, MotoE will race in 2019 with a revised calendar. The organizers will have to add one more venue to complete the planned five rounds. No one was injured in the fire, and MotoE racers took to social media to express gratitude for zero injuries as well as their excitement for the season to push through despite the setback.

“No one suffered any injury as a result and the damage was purely material. This is the key concern for all those involved as safety is the top priority on and off track,” said MotoGP organizers in a statement. “The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup is a competition born from innovation, powered by 100% renewable energy. This ambition to evolve and experiment with new technologies brings with it an associated risk…”

“Dorna Sports and all of our partners in this new venture are committed to getting the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup back on track as soon as possible, with work already underway to begin rebuilding and replacing materials and motorcycles lost in the fire.”