Herrera stays perfect in 2026 WorldWCR Superpole sessions while Ramos crashes out late to sit P2
The #6 takes her first pole at the Hungarian Circuit while both of her title rivals struggled to keep up
The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship rolled out onto the scenic lakeside Balaton Park Circuit for the opening Tissot Superpole session of the Motul Hungarian Round to set their grid for another heart-pounding round of racing. Maria Herrera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR) took pole position for her third pole of the season. Behind her Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team) and Roberta Ponziani (Klint Racing Team) will form the front row for Saturday’s Race 1.
HERRERA SAILS FREE: Outpaces the pack by more than half a second to sit pole
Just after the session started, Emily Bondi (FT Racing Academy) came to grief with a highside crash on Turn 15-16, bringing out the red flag with 22 minutes to go as she was taken to the medical centre for further examination where later she was deemed fit. Maria Herrera held off Paola Ramos for pole position on account of her 1’52.264s lap, breaking Chloe Jones's (Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha) standing track record of 1’53.089s by nearly eight tenths of a second. Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team) was trading hot laps for her first pole of the season when, from P2 with two minutes left, she was unable to improve on her 1’52.826s time as she came into Turn 1 out of shape, lost the front, and saw gravel. Roberta Ponziani took a pair of P4s here last season and was sitting in P3 when she unfortunately crashed out of the session on Turn 12-13. Her 1.53.587s held on however, to land the Italian P3 on Saturday.
SARAPUECH SOARS: Improves her personal best Superpole result of P12 to P4
Muklada Sarapuech (EEST NJT Racing Team) continues to shine in her third wildcard appearance of the season, clinching fourth place in what was her best Superpole performance as of yet by far with a 1’53.923s time landing her 1.7s out from P1. Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) took a race win and a podium here last season, but her 1’53.969s pace was unable to fight with the riders at the front as she fell to P5. Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) crashed out of a WorldWCR race for her first time ever last round, despite having competed in all three seasons so far of the Championship. Undeterred, she rode as high as P4 on the session and finished in P6 with a 1.54.098s time. Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing) took her best Superpole result last time out, and while a Race 1 injury ruled her out for the rest of the round, she is back in business in P7 after a 1’54.167s time.
SPEED DEMON: The Brit earns a 2026 Superpole personal best of P9
Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) didn’t crash in the session but ran only seven laps compared to most of the pack’s 11 or 12. She opted for quality over quantity, however, and took eighth place with a time of 1’54.457s. Behind her, with her first top ten Superpole result of 2026, Chloe Jones landed P9, just under two tenths behind Madrigal. Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) keeps her top ten Superpole session streak alive in 2026 as she snags the last spot of the top 10.
The top six from the WorldWCR Tissot Superpole session, full results here!
1. Maria Herrera (Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR) 1’52.264s
2. Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team) +0.562s
3. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Racing Team) +1.323s
4. Muklada Sarapuech (EEST NJT Racing Team) +1.659s
5. Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) +1.705s
6. Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) +1.834s
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