Dorna Sports has confirmed the MotoE World Cup will go ahead as planned in 2019, after a major fire at Jerez destroyed much of the electric MotoGP support series' paddock.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, a blaze broke out in the MotoE paddock at Jerez and destroyed all 18 Energica Ego motorcycles and charging infrastructure. No personnel were injured.
The new-for-2019 MotoE World Cup roster of 12 teams were at Jerez for the first pre-season three-day test ahead of its campaign, which was due to get underway at the same venue during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend on May 5.
However, as a result of the fire, the first round of the series will no longer take place at Jerez, with a revised calendar set to be announced in due course. It is unclear yet if Energica will build new race bikes, or adapt its current road going models of the Ego.
An investigation is ongoing, though a press release confirmed no bikes were charging when the blaze broke out.
The statement read: “Early on the 14th March, a fire in the newly-built E-paddock at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto destroyed the majority of material for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup.
“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.
“As previously stated, an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire, the results of which will be published as soon as it has concluded.
“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.
“It can be confirmed, however, that no motorcycles were charging at the time of the incident in the box in which the fire started.
“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.
“MotoE™ will race in 2019 and a revised calendar will be announced in due course.
“However, it can be confirmed that the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup will not race at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto as part of the Gran Premio Red Bull de Espana this season.”
MotoE was due to feature on the support bill at the Spanish, French, German, Austrian and San Marino Grands Prix.
The race at Le Mans is also in doubt, with it taking place just a fortnight after the Spanish round.
