The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship prepares to send off its 2026 season on a high note as for the third consecutive season, the Championship will be decided in the final round. Maria Herrera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR) leads with a large margin behind her ahead of Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), and the #6 could crown herself Champion in Race 1. The #36 behind her, however, won’t be pulling any punches, and she will push the title decider to Sunday. In other news, it was announced that the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia and its Pirelli Spanish Round will be the final WorldWCR round featuring Yamaha equipping the class. From 2027 on, Chinese manufacturer CFMOTO will propel the category forward.
HERRERA SIX POINTS AWAY FROM A SECOND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The calculations in the Championship fight are relatively straightforward this time around. The #6 sits 44 points ahead of Neila with 50 points left on the board; as a result, Herrera will be Champion on Saturday if she can finish among the top ten. Neila, however will need quite a hand from lady luck this weekend, as she will need to win and hope for an error from the #6 to preserve her title hopes. Herrera arrives hot, having collected 45 out of 50 potential points from their most recent round back in July at Donington Park, and she has landed atop the podium twice at Jerez in the past. Her first victory here arrived in 2024 while she fought with Ana Carrasco (Honda Racing World Supersport) for the first-ever WorldWCR title, and the second was taken last season in Race 1 which was a critical step to putting her first World Championship victory on ice. For the #36, Neila was sent sprawling onto the grass at Donington Park after contact with Herrera, but she showed her composure with a Race 2 triumph on Sunday. The Madrid native has taken four podiums here in the past, has not yet stood on the top step at Jerez.
ONE POINT SEPARATES PONZIANI AND RAMOS
Just behind them, an interesting fight has developed for the final step on the podium. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Racing Team) arrives in southern Spain with a single point in hand on her rookie teammate Paola Ramos. The Spanish rookie has won two races so far in her first campaign as a full-time rider after making her debut as a wildcard at Jerez. That round, she took a stunning maiden win; foreshadowing a strong rookie campaign in which her main issue has been struggles with inconsistency and bad luck. Four races have finished with ‘SuperPao’ outside the points, her most recent took the form of a crash out at Donington Park. Similar to the #36, the crash occurred after contact with Herrera, which the #6 was later penalised for. On the other side of the box, Ponziani has been much more consistent. She’s bagged two podiums so far, and has finished every race between third and sixth on the occasions when she has finished the race.
A RED-HOT FIGHT FOR THE TOP FIVE
A distant shot at third place remains for Muklada Sarapuech (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by EEST NJT Racing) and Chloe Jones (Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha) at 19 and 28 points respectively behind Ponziani. The Thai rookie arrives in Jerez having added two podiums to her tally from the last three races, but she also suffered her first DNF on Sunday at Donington Park. Another hurdle for her will be that she has never raced at Jerez. It’s been a slower season for Jones compared to her 2025 debut, however she returned to the podium in Race 1 at Misano and will hope to do the same at Jerez.
A FINAL BATTLE AT JEREZ TO CLOSE THE TOP TEN
The fight from seventh to eleventh is led by Spanish rider Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team), who, with 73 points, will fight in her home round, hoping to match her season-best P5 and take a final podium to close the year. Yvonne Cerpa (MotosCerpa-Gradara Corse) is one point behind her compatriot, and after a very solid debut season, she will want to take one more step up onto the podium. Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) continues to make progress in her second WorldWCR campaign. She knows this circuit well; she took two top-ten finishes here in 2025. She trails Cerpa by eight points and leads Sara Sanchez (Hadden Racing Team) by five. The #64 has had an uphill 2026 season and hasn’t been able to show her typical high level, which will make her want to close the 2026 season on a high note that much more. Mexican rider Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) finds herself in 11th place, a single point behind the #64 and will look to snatch a top ten position from her.
FAMILIAR FACES RETURN TO THE GRID
Joy Bruno will replace Karolina Danak with the Prata Motor Sport squad during the final round of the year. Meanwhile, French rider Carla Mulot will ride in the place of the injured Lucie Boudesseul with the GMT94 Yamaha outfit. Colombian rider Sara Varon and Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) return to the field at Jerez as the round's two wildcards, although the Kiwi will first need to pass a checkup at the medical centre.
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