MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

As is now tradition, MotoE provided the first bit of race action of the weekend and it was a celebration for the home crowds from start to finish. Poleman Matteo Ferrari made a strong start from pole position, ahead of Mattia Casadei and Andrea Mantovani, while Hector Garzo made quick progress up to fourth. Even more impressive was Nicholas Spinelli, who jumped into fifth from 10th on the grid, ahead of Kevin Zannoni, Randy Krummenacher and Eric Granado, who had dropped to 8th after starting on the second row. Kevin Manfredi and championship leader Jordi Torres completed the top 10 on the opening lap and never made much progress.

Ferrari was immediately attempting an escape at the front but Mantovani and Casadei were able to keep up with him, while the early exchanges between Spinelli and Garzo dropped them almost a second behind by lap two, with a big group still in tow. The chasers reduced in numbers next time around turn 1, when Spinelli slid out from the lead of the pursuit, allowing Garzo to take over. However, the Spaniard was unable to reduce or even maintain the gap to the leader, not helped by constant challenges from teammate Krummenacher. Meanwhile, Granado got promoted to sixth place but wasn’t making much noise within the group. 

Back at the front, Mantovani attacked for the lead with three laps remaining and both Casadei and Ferrari tried to retaliate next time around turn one, but Mantovani promptly snuck back past the both of them to recover top spot. The RNF rider kept the lead going into the final lap and finished it unchallenged to claim a maiden MotoE victory on home soil. Compatriots Ferrari and Casadei joined him on the podium after swapping places on the last lap, while Garzo managed to hold back Krummenacher for fourth. Granado finished his first race of the season in a quiet sixth place, while Manfredi, Zannoni, Torres and Miquel Pons completed the top 10. 

Despite an underwhelming first race in Mugello, Torres continues to lead the world championship standings, three points ahead of Garzo, with Ferrari seven points back. 

Results: