Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) has clinched her first FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship! The Spanish rider’s competitive fire and podium consistency required her to perform at a high level, round in and round off to hold off challengers like Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha). In the end however, the experience of the #6 overcame the rest of the grid, and Herrera can forevermore call herself a WorldWCR World Champion!

BOUNCING BACK FROM 2024: Heading into 2025 as a pre-season favourite

While Herrera’s 2024 main rival Carrasco departed the WorldWCR field for a spot in WorldSSP, Herrera’s 2025 campaign proved to be no cakewalk. 2024 fourth-place finisher Nelia found another gear in 2025. She stepped up her game to not only compete with the #6, but to at times outpace her, drawing into question whether preseason projections placing Herrera as the favourite would hold water in the end.

FIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON: Herrera vs Neila ignites in 2025

The 2025 season gave many dramatic moments between the two, frequently splitting race wins across each weekend, and providing some of the best moments in WorldWCR’s two seasons so far. Their engagement at Cremona proved one of the season’s most decisive rounds, as the #6’s first and second place efforts saw her put a total of 13 points between her and Neila. The pair came into that second round of the season tied on points, and that 13-point cushion Herrera earned in the end proved critical to help her weather the storm at rounds like Donington where Neila gained back points on the 2024 runner-up. A fourth-place finish at Magny-Cours as Neila claimed victory in Race 2 closed the title fight up to just six points heading into a second decider at Jerez, but Herrera was able to keep Neila at bay for her first title.

REVENGE FOR 2024: Bouncing back after late heartbreak last year

What makes her world title even sweeter is Herrera’s revenge for her 2024 Championship heartbreak. Again, Cremona proved critical as Herrera led the Championship last season heading into the fourth of their sixth rounds, and after earning P1 compared to Ana Carrasco's P3 in Race 1, the rider from Toledo, Spain took a 16-point lead. Disaster struck for Herrera in Race 2 however, as on Turn 11 of their second lap, Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) and Herrera collided and crashed out of the race which Carrasco went on to win, squandering her lead and lifting Carrasco to P1, nine points above Herrera. That fight went to Jerez but Herrera was involved in another collision, again with Sanchez, on the last lap at the final corner, which ended her slim hopes of the title.

SUCCESS ELSEWHERE: Making her mark on motorcycle racing

Herrera’s had a lot of success throughout her career, with WorldWCR adding to the list. She claimed three victories in what was then the CEV Moto3, now JuniorGP, in 2013 and 2014 – famously beating 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo in a race-long fight at Jerez, winning by 0.011s. She also raced in WorldSSP300, picking up points in five of her eight races, and WorldSSP where she battled for the points. In MotoE, she has been a regular points scorer too, and has a best result of P4 coming at Le Mans this season.

HERRERA'S SEASON IN STATS

Podiums: 10

Wins: 6

Pole positions: 3

Fastest laps: 0

Congratulate Herrera on social media using the hashtag #QueenMar1a and watch her title-winning campaign back for FREE on the WorldWCR YouTube channel!