The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship title race is heating up after the Hungarian Round, with Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) and Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) still separated by just nine points with four races to go. Herrera claimed victory in Race 1 with a historic winning margin at the Balaton Park Circuit, while Neila responded on Sunday to cancel out the gains the #6 made on Saturday.

HERRERA TAKES RACE 1 HONOURS: a big swing in the title fight…

In Race 1, Herrera claimed victory by more than a second. It was the biggest winning margin in WorldWCR history, and the first to be decided by more than a second. The #6 opened up her lead in the Championship to 18 points with the victory, with Neila only managing to finish third, and Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) once again on the podium. It put Herrera in a strong position heading into Sunday’s Race 2.

Discussing her victory, Herrera said: “I’m very happy to have won! I battled with the group with many overtakes in the first and last parts of the track. I managed some corners because this track is new for me and I didn’t know some chicanes very well, even in the race. I improved a little bit and could create a gap. I pushed to the limit until the end of the race. I’m happy with the bigger gap, it’s more relaxing but I have to push until the end of the Championship like last year.”

BOUNCING BACK: Neila responds with her own win

On Sunday, the roles were reversed. Neila claimed victory – by 0.220s – ahead of Jones, with Herrera finishing third as the points she gained on the #36 were wiped out in Race 2. It was a three-rider scrap for victory with less than a second separating the trio across the line, although only Herrera and Neila led laps, as all three scrapped it out for victory as WorldWCR’s first visit to Hungary concluded.

After responding with a win of her own, Neila said: “I’m super happy again! Race 2 was amazing. In the middle of the race, I made a gap with Chloe and Maria. For me, I did a good job and a good step. I also did a good time, because I did it alone, without anyone in front of me. The bike worked good. The Championship is super close, it’s the same gap as after Donington. We’ll have to keep working and do my best in the remaining races.”

TWO ROUNDS TO GO, 100 POINTS AVAILABLE: the Championship race state of play

Nine points separate Herrera and Neila heading into Round 5 of the season at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours and technically it can be a title decider, even though it’s unlikely. The #6 would need to outscore her rival by 42 points and leave the French venue 51 points clear of Neila; or 50 points if Herrera wins both races – as it stands, Herrera has four wins and Neila three.

Keep up with the  WorldWCR Championship battle by following WorldWCR on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook, and watch every race FREE on YouTube!