The first round of the 2024 MotoE World Championship ended on the Portimao Circuit, in Portugal, with an eighth position in race 1 for the Spezzino, who nevertheless obtained important points from a championship perspective in a difficult weekend.
After a very particular test Thursday, where the weather did not allow us to test new solutions, Kevin and the SIC58 took to the track on Friday and Saturday for the first electric GP of the season.
In free practice, Kevin immediately improved his race pace compared to the tests, but never finding a feeling when exiting corners, he struggled a lot to be fast and incisive on the flying lap in qualifying, unlike at the end of the 2023 season, where he took the fourth place in Misano.
Kevin: “A subdued first round for us, our expectations were well above the results obtained in the two races in Portimao.
In Race 1 I finished in 8th position starting from 15th on the grid, in Race 2 I fought too much with other riders in the initial stages and this didn't allow me to try to escape with the leading group. However, I look at the glass half full, as the points gained are more than in the first match last year and I am sure that if we work in the right way, we will soon be in the game. The MotoE World Championship has had an important evolution in terms of competitiveness, we are missing nothing and from Le Mans we will try to be in the top part of the rankings again."
Kevin Manfredi is confident about the continuation of the season and will soon also be busy with the first rounds of the Italian Speed Championship in Misano on 6/7 April and subsequently with the World Endurance Championship for the first 24h of Le Mans.
Kevin thanks all the sponsors and technical partners of the 2024 season.
