WSS star Mahias to make MotoE debut

2017 World Supersport champion Lucas Mahias will make his MotoE debut during the electric-bike season finale at Valencia this weekend.

The Frenchman - fourth in this year's WSS series with two wins for Kawasaki, including the Qatar finale (pictured) – is to replace the injured Niki Tuuli at the Ajo team.

Tuuli, winner of the inaugural MotoE race at the Sachsenring in July, is still recovering from left wrist and femur injuries sustained at the Misano round in September.

"It's difficult to set a specific goal for this weekend, as I don't know the bike or the championship and it's hard to know what my potential will be," said Mahias.

"I will have had a maximum of 20 laps with an electric bike in practice, but that’s riding alone, so I can't compare myself to the other rivals who have more experience than me.

"But as a rider, when you start a race you want to win, so my goal is to be at the front.

"I like the Valencia circuit and I’ve raced there before. I think it could be good for MotoE, as it’s not a very long track, similar to Sachsenring.”

In addition to his seven WSS wins and 2017 title victory, Mahias also won the FIM Endurance World Championship title in 2016 and has made six grand prix appearances in the Moto2 World Championship.

The first-ever FIM MotoE World Cup season concludes with a double round at Valencia this weekend. The fifth MotoE race of the year will start at 4:15 pm on Saturday, while the final race gets underway on Sunday at 10:05 am. Both will be contested over 7 laps.