LCR launch MotoE Team with DePuniet and Canepa
Motorcycle racing welcomes a new era with the launch of the MotoE Championship (officially the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup) in 2019 and the LCR Team is pleased to announce its participation in the series with Randy De Puniet and Niccolò Canepa as official riders for the LCR E-Team.
Lucio Cecchinello (LCR Team Principal)
“This project is a new challenge in my career and I am very proud to be part of it with the brand-new LCR E-Team because this new series represents a part of racing’s future. I am also very happy to be back working with my former Chief Technician, Paolo Cordioli (who helped me to set up the LCR Team in 1996) and also Luciano and Thomas Betti, both former international champions of previous electric bike competitions. When Randy (De Puniet) accepted our proposal to be part of this new project, I was very happy because he lined up for the LCR Team for five years in the past (2003/2004 in the 250cc class and 2008/2009/2010 in the MotoGP class) achieving amazing results (18 times on the podium, including 4 victories in LCR colours). Niccolò has a very impressive career record also, including the 2007 Superstock World Title and the 2016/2017 FIM World Endurance Title, and is keen to start this new challenge aboard the MotoE”.
The new championship, which will run alongside MotoGP, will feature low-noise, zero-emission motorcycles that are powered by renewable energy sources.
The inaugural calendar consists of five rounds that will take place during MotoGP events (Jerez de la Frontera, Le Mans, Sachsenring, Spielberg and Misano) and a first test on November 23-25 at Jerez.
The LCR E-Team is ready embrace the new challenge with a strong line-up that features highly-respected technical staff, talented former LCR rider De Puniet and the 2017 Endurance Champion, Canepa.
Randy De Puniet
“Of course I am very happy to be part of the first MotoE Championship and for me it is even better because I return to the LCR Team where I raced for 5 years in my MotoGP career. I had my best racing memories with this team so it’s amazing to be back with Lucio and his squad. Regarding MotoE World Cup, everything will be new for everybody, but thanks to this test in November in Jerez we will gather more information on the bike and the riding style. I think it’s going to be fun with 18 identical bikes using the same tyres, so I cannot wait to start this new challenge”.
Niccolò Canepa
“I am very happy to be part of this new project in its debut season and, most of all, doing it in LCR colours. I think this is one of the most high-level teams in the paddock and I have a very good relationship with Lucio. Now I can’t wait to try this bike for the first time in Jerez. I am actually training a lot to get ready for the start of the season and this first test in November will give us important information on the bike configuration. Lucio has put together a very professional crew and, from my side, I will do my best to reward the team with good results”.
