Ahead of the first MotoE World Championship race at the Sachsenring, Kenny Foray reveals his first impressions of the MotoE testing in Valencia and what he expects from the season opener at the German Grand Prix.
Interview carried out by the Tech 3 team.
Can you describe your first impressions of the first MotoE “race” to me?
« It was good, even though it's a real sprint race, because seven laps are quite short especially for me as an endurance driver. In addition, it is not easy to overtake other riders because everyone has the same bike and to pass you have to attack a lot. Overall it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it."
Being on the electric machine, what is the biggest difference compared to other motorcycles?
« First of all, the weight. At the moment, I'm still having trouble braking because the bike is heavy. I still need to learn and understand this. Also, the sound is very different. I took my earplugs out to hear the drums, but other than that it's really similar to other bikes ».
How would you describe the performance of the tires?
« It's been really positive. I know Michelin from Superbike, so I had no problem adapting to it. In the end, they work really well ».
What surprises you most about Energica machines?
« I have to admit that overall I'm not surprised. It's a pleasure for me to be here and I knew what was happening when I came here. The biggest surprise is probably Energica. They managed to rebuild all the bikes in just two months. It's really unbelievable ! But, apart from that, I knew beforehand that it would be great races, a good championship and an interesting bike”.
What do you think about competitiveness in general?
« I think some riders have directly understood how this bike works and others, like me at the moment, still have to learn more. It's not easy and I can't really explain it. I don't know this track very well, I've never raced in Valencia and sometimes you have to work a little more, because you have to learn the bike and the track at the same time. It's difficult, but I learn a lot and get more experience with each round ».
What do you expect from the first round in Germany and the general classification?
« Before this test and the first race simulation, I wanted a lot more. But now I have to be realistic and I think if I can get a top 10 in the first race I will be happy. It all depends on how I feel about the bike. If I can improve at the Sachsenring, I think we can expect good things. My teammate is very fast and we are on the same bike, so normally we can do the same thing ».
