PREVIEW: Donington awaits WorldWCR as the halfway stage approaches… can Herrera resist Neila’s challenge?
WorldWCR returns to action at Donington Park with the title fight well and truly on as the halfway point of the season approaches
Donington Park hosts the mid-way point of the 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship and the Prosecco DOC UK Round is sure to provide plenty of drama and action as the tension starts to ramp up. Just 13 points separate Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) and Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) at the top of the standings as they look to secure this year’s title, although Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) isn’t far behind either heading into Round 3 of the season.
HERRERA VS NEILA ONCE AGAIN? Ponziani, Sanchez could be in the mix
Herrera claimed victory at Donington Park a year ago in Race 2 and will be hoping to repeat that this year and fend off Neila who’s become a consistent challenger to the #6 in her second campaign. Neila claimed her first WorldWCR rostrum at Donington last year and, so far this season, hasn’t been off the podium at all. It looks as though it will be Herrera vs Neila at Donington but don’t count out Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) – currently fourth in the standings but a podium finisher at Donington last year – or Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team), third in the standings but a race winner last time out at Cremona but yet to stand on the Donington podium.
FIVE RIDERS, NINE POINTS: a chance to build a gap
In the fight for fifth in the standings, Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) leads a group of five riders separated by just nine points. The Mexican has 39 points while Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) and Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing), have 34 points each. Home hero Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) sits in eighth in the standings on 32 points while Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) is ninth on 30. With 50 points available over the weekend, Donington could be a chance for this group to splinter if one or two riders are able to get some big results.
FIGHTING FOR THE TOP TEN: Boudesseul battles Carreno and Bondi
It’s tight in the battle for the top ten, too. French rider Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) currently leads that scrap with 22 points,with Isis Carreno (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) three points further back. The Chilean rider however will miss out on the action at Donington due to injury. Emily Bondi (ZELOS Trasimeno) is the last of the trio of riders in this group with 15 points but, like the five riders ahead, it’s a chance to potentially put some space between each other.
WILDCARD NEWS: two extra riders at Donington
There will be two wildcard riders at Donington Park. Denise Dal Zotto (Affinity Sports Academy Rokit Rookies) returns after her points-scoring exploits at Cremona as a wildcard; she finished 15th and 14th in the two races. Australian rider Tara Morrison (Tara Morrison Racing) will make her WorldWCR debut in the UK. Morrison is a race winner in Australian Supersport 300. Madalena Simoes (FB Racing Team) was declared unfit at Cremona, and she will need to pass a pre-round medical check on Thursday if she is to race this weekend.
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