Maria Herrera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR) has been crowned the 2026 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Champion as the #6 became the first rider to win two titles in the Championship’s short history. She overcame a fierce fight with Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) throughout 2026 to come out on top and defend her title.
A SEASON TO REMEMBER
Herrera switched teams for 2026 as she moved to the Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR squad from the Klint Racing Team, but she was still able to show her prowess. She’s claimed 10 podiums from 11 races so far this season, with one to go, including 6 wins as she stormed to a second successive title. The #6 may have won with a 35-point advantage over Neila, but that only tells a small part of the picture.
“IT’S MORE DIFFICULT TO WIN THE SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP”
There were often last-lap fights involving the Spanish star, with Portimao a three-rider showdown involving Herrera, Neila and Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team). Assen was a repeat of last year, and Misano an epic battle in both Race 1 and Race 2. The title fight ignited at Donington Park when Herrera and Neila came to blows, with the #6 penalised for the incident. She was penalised again in Race 2 for a collision with Ramos which put her title celebrations on ice; temporarily, at least. She headed to Jerez with a 44-point advantage as she became the first two-time WorldWCR Champion, while also winning the final title using the Yamaha R7 machines and Pirelli tyres.
On her second title, Herrera said: “It means a lot. It’s more difficult to win the second Championship. For me, it was more difficult. I had the pressure on me to be fast in every race because the team worked like this. The team brought me a lot. In the beginning, I felt calm with all of them because, at Portimao, you could see I won the race because I felt the bike worked very well. The team feels like a family.”
“BEA WAS COMPETITIVE EVERY RACE… PAOLA PUT PRESSURE ON ME IN SOME RACES”
Herrera opened up on fighting with Neila and Ramos throughout the 2026 campaign, revealing she was able to learn to be happier with podium places when she wasn’t able to win a race. She also lamented Ramos’s big crash at Assen in Race 1, which ruled the #58 out of Sunday’s action and stopped her fighting for the title.
On fighting Neila and Ramos, the two-time Champion said: “Bea was very competitive every race, and also Paola put pressure on me in some races. It’s a pity Paola crashed at Assen because, if she didn’t, she could’ve battled for the Championship. I learnt a lot. To get a podium in every race before Jerez was important for the Championship. If you can finish in the top three, it’s okay sometimes. I remember in the first year, I wanted to finish first and, if not, I was angry. I enjoyed P2s and P3s a lot.”
“IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK WHEN YOU’RE CHAMPION”
Summing up her emotions after a challenging year on track with fierce rivals, but also off track due to injury surgery, the Spaniard said she was ‘very proud’. She also explained that it can be harder to work well as Champion.
She stated: “I’m very proud because it’s very difficult to work when you’re Champion. You have to keep the same mentality. You can’t relax. In the end, I was pushing in winter. I had to have surgery during the year. I think all these things are invisible. I’m proud of me and my family.”
Congratulate Herrera on her success using #TheQueensDefence on social media, and re-watch the best bits of 2026 for FREE on the WorldWCR YouTube channel!