Pirro: Ducati MotoE prototype 'light, good balance'

After Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali revealed the factory's 2023 MotoE electric bike prototype was already on track, pictures of the machine and first impressions of the rider on-board - MotoGP tester Michele Pirro - have been released.

Misano, where during October's MotoGP round Ducati was named as taking over from Energica as MotoE's single-bike supplier, was the chosen venue for the debut test.

"Testing the MotoE prototype on the circuit was a great thrill, because it marks the beginning of an important chapter in Ducati history," said Pirro, who has been a Ducati test rider since 2013.

"The bike is light and already has a good balance. Furthermore, the throttle connection in the first opening phase and the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP bike.

"If it weren't for the silence and for the fact that in this test, we decided to limit the power output to just 70% of performance, I could easily have imagined that I was riding my bike."

The electric prototype, code-named 'V21L', is the result of work jointly undertaken by Ducati Corse and Ducati R&D engineers, led by Roberto Canè, the factory's eMobility Director.

"We are experiencing a truly extraordinary moment. I find it hard to believe it is reality and still not a dream!" said Canè. "The first electric Ducati on the track is exceptional not only for its uniqueness but also for the type of undertaking: challenging both for its performance objectives and for its extremely short timescales.

"Precisely for this reason, the work of the whole team dedicated to the project has been incredible and today's result repays us for the efforts made in recent months. We are certainly not finished yet; indeed, we know that the road ahead is still very long, but in the meantime, we have laid a first important 'brick'."

The most important challenges of the MotoE project are related to the size, weight and range of the batteries, with the current Energica machines weighing a hefty 260kg (a MotoGP bike weighs 157kg) for 8 lap sprint races, with lap times comparable to the (250cc) Moto3 class.

The focus of Ducati's project are, in addition to better performance, the containment of weight and consistency of power delivery during the race, with particular attention to the development of a cooling system.

Ducati plans to use its experience in the MotoE World Cup to create, 'as soon as the technology allows it, a Ducati electric vehicle for road use that is sporty, light, exciting and able to satisfy all enthusiasts'.

Alongside the MotoE class, the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 grand prix categories are to swap fossil fuels for sustainable eFuels or biofuels (within normal internal combusion engines) from 2024-2027.