Dominique Aegerter takes second place in the first MotoE race at Le Mans

A second place, as well as 20 world championship points, give Dominique Aegerter of the Dynavolt Intact GP Team every reason to be happy after he shone by setting the best lap times towards the final phase of the race.

Anxious scenes marked the opening lap of the 8-lap sprint race, into which Switzerland's Dominique Aegerter had started second. After the start, he lost some ground through the first chicanes and found himself in fourth position. But behind him, a crash by last year's Cup winner, Jordi Torres, caused a stir.

Meanwhile, at the front, the Italian duo of Mattia Casadei and Kevin Zannoni pulled away from Hikari Okubo in third and Aegerter in P4. The 31-year-old regained his confidence after just under three laps and showcased his incredible pace, closing the huge 1.5s gap to the Japanese rider in front of him within a few laps. On the penultimate lap, he undertook his rival on the inside line at the chicane of turns 3 and 4 and took up the chase to Zannoni in front of him, who in turn felt safe from behind with a one-second lead.

But it took the 2021 Cup runner-up just a few corners to turn a one-second deficit into 0.5, but then the Italian crashed while trying to overtake his compatriot Casadei in the lead. Dominique Aegerter consequently crossed the finish line a grateful second place ahead of Okubo.

With 20 points in the bank, Eric Granado's lead in the Cup standings is reduced to a slim six points. Will the second race on Sunday at 15:30 (CEST) bring a change of the lead in the 2022 MotoE World Cup standing?

Race 1:
1. Mattia CASADEI/ ITA
2. Dominique AEGERTER/ SWI (+0.488)
3. Hikari OKUBO/ JAP (+1.223)

MotoE World Cup:
1. GRANADO Eric / BRA / 59
2. AEGERTER Dominique / SWI / 53
3. CASADEI Mattia/ ITA/ 41
4. FERRARI Matteo / ITA / 39
5. PONS Miquel / SPA / 38
6. OKUBO Hikari / JPN / 37
7. GARZO Hector / SPA / 24
8. ESCRIG Alex / SPA / 23
9. TORRES Jordi / SPA / 20
10. CANEPA Niccolo/ ITA / 20