News

The scene is set for a thrilling second half of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship season. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) sits atop the field as they travel with the WorldSBK paddock to Hungary, where Balaton Park Circuit will host the country's first WorldSBK round since 1990. Leading the opposition, Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) closes in on Herrera. At the same time, Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) and Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) strive to close to within striking distance.

WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE: With Herrera only nine points ahead of Neila, who will blink first?

After leaving their season-opening round tied at 45 points apiece, Herrera capitalised on Neila’s pair of third-place finishes at Cremona, jumping out to 13 points ahead of the #36. Last round, at Donington, Neila struck back in Race 2 when Herrera fell to P3, gaining back a total of four points from the current Championship leader. Both Herrera and Neila have demonstrated that they can put the hammer down and seal a race; however, they have also proven capable of dramatic late overtakes to snatch victory away from each other. Balaton brings with it a clean slate for the pair to battle it out, so buckle up and enjoy the fireworks because from here, between the two, it’s too close to call.

PODIUM CONTENDERS: Sanchez stays consistent, Ponziani struggles, Jones impresses at home

Sanchez earned her third podium and best result of the season so far with her Donington Race 2 second place. In a season where she has shown great speed, she had previously struggled to beat out Neila and Herrera; however, at Donington, she showed her calibre as she held off Herrera. She sits currently 42 points behind Herrera, and 33 points behind Neila in second. While they have quite the hill to climb, if Sanchez or the riders behind her can consistently finish on the podium, and the riders in front of her suffer any unlucky DNFs, there is still plenty of racing to come. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) currently resides in third place in the Championship. Although she had an exemplary round at Cremona, her pace to start the season and most recently at Donington has cost her compared to the metronomic Herrera and Neila. While she faced a back of the grid penalty and did well to recover, her Race 1 P10 at Donington was her worst result of the season so far, something she will need to shake off if she is to break the Championship battle back open. British Rider Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) enjoyed her maiden WorldWCR podium in Race 1 at Donington, announcing herself to the rest of the field as a rider who is not to be overlooked. Currently in fifth, Jones finds herself 33 points behind Ponziani and 78 points behind the Championship leader. Hot off her best round of the season so far. Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) sits in P6, just three points behind Jones, 81 points behind P1.

SLIM MARGINS: Just eight points separate P7 from P10

Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) was slightly slower than she had looked in rounds past, her P4 and P6 at Cremona giving way to P12 and P10 at Donington. She sits just a point behind Ruiz; however, her P7 position is tenuous as French rookie Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) – who shone at Donington, nearly earning her first podium in Race 2 – and Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing) both sit tied with 46 points, a mere three points behind Madrigal. Rounding out the top 10 Championship spots, New Zealander Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) was unfortunate to suffer a DNF in her Race 2 at Donington, but she is right in the fight for P6, just nine points behind Ruiz.

A PAIR OF NEW FACES AT BALATON: 2024 WorldWCR rider Sara Varon returns for Balaton wildcard

Colombian rider Sara Varon (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) returns with her 2024 team for a wildcard appearance at Balaton Park Circuit. Joining her, representing the same team, North American rider Elisa Gendron brings her MotoAmerica Twins Cup series pedigree across the pond to compete at Balaton, filling in for injured Chilean rider Isis Carreno (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA).

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