Jerez set to host two official MotoE pre-season tests

Ahead of its third season of competition, the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup has announced a provisional 2021 pre-season testing programme.

This year's electric-bike track activities are due to begin with a three-day test at Jerez from March 2-4 (just before the Qatar MotoGP Shakedown test begins) followed by a second and final test outing at the Spanish circuit from April 12-14.

When the MotoE paddock then returns to Jerez in early May it will be for the season-opening race, as part of the Spanish MotoGP weekend.

Seven MotoE rounds are planned for this season, including new events at Catalunya and Assen, before concluding with a double-header at Misano in mid-September.

Like the provisional MotoGP calendar, the current MotoE schedule comes with the caveat, 'All dates, events and the eventual attendance of spectators are subject to the evolution of the pandemic and the approval of the corresponding Governments and authorities.'

Matteo Ferrari (Gresini) was the inaugural 2019 MotoE World Cup champion, before being beaten to the 2020 crown by Jordi Torres (Pons). All MotoE competitors use identical Energica motorcycles.

Torres and Ferrari, plus fellow race winners Dominique Aegerter (Intact GP) and Eric Granado (WithU Motorsport), are among the riders expected to return for 2021.

However, many of the teams are still to announce their rider line-up and Marc VDS recently withdrew from the series due to a calendar clash for Mike di Meglio with this year's World Endurance Championship.