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The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship is hitting its stride as the field descends on Hungary’s Balaton Park Circuit for the Motul Hungarian Round. Including this one, four rounds remain, and the crucial question this round is whether riders like Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), Roberta Ponziani (Klint Racing Team), and Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team) can keep Maria Herrera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR) off the top step of the podium or will the #6 further insulate her Championship lead?

THE FIGHT FOR P1: Nothing to split Neila and Herrera last time here in Hungary

Maria Herrera and Beatriz Neila remain separated by 13 points, the same margin between the two as prior to Assen. Expect more bar-to-bar battles this weekend, similar to last round. Last year in Hungary, the two landed the same results: each scored a race win and a bronze medal.

A COMEBACK IN THE MAKING? Ramos will hope to compete at Hungary

25 points back from Neila and 38 points behind Herrera, Roberta Ponziani passed her teammate in the Championship standings after a proud showing in the Netherlands, where she took her first podium of the season in Race 1. On the other hand, in that same Race 1, her rookie teammate Paola Ramos crashed on the exit of the final chicane during the last lap, and dropped points to the title contenders, now 45 points behind the #6, who she went into Assen tied for the lead. Provided she is given the all clear from the medical centre to compete, she will need to ride with a knife between her teeth to begin to chip away at the defending Champion’s points lead.

RIVERA ON A ROLL: She arrives hot off a personal best-tying Race 1 at Assen

Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) matched her career-best WorldWCR finish of P6 at Assen. While Balaton Park was one of her weaker weekends last season, if she can apply the pace she’s shown this season, she will be a top-five contender. Both WorldWCR rounds so far have brought with them a DNF for Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha); however, in the other two races that she has finished, she has placed in the top four, including a P3 podium to close the last round. If she can finish both races with the pace she has shown so far, she may very well be in the podium fight.

JONES BACK IN THE MIX: The Brit will look for her first 2026 podium at Balaton Park

Chloe Jones (Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha) took a big step forward, looking more like her 2025 self as she landed sixth and fourth after a season-opening P13 and P14. Her turn in form is coming at the right time, as Balaton Park last year saw Jones land her WorldWCR career’s first podium double with a pair of P2s. Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) took her second-best WorldWCR result last season in Hungary. She will look to get cracking early. Yvonne Cerpa (MotosCerpa-Gradara Corse) arrives at the third round of her rookie season having placed top ten in three of the four races, and she will hope to continue what’s been a strong debut.

SARAPUECH RETURNS: The Thai rider will look to build on her strong showing at Assen

As the round’s sole WorldWCR wild card rider, Muklada Sarapuech (EEST NJT Racing Team) return for her third round of the season and will look to translate her best result yet in a pair of P5s at Assen into a play for the podium in Hungary.

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