Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team) has had a rapid rise in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship – despite her career in the series being just two rounds old. She stunned the field at Jerez at the end of last year to claim victory, and has started 2026 off in much the same way. Speaking ahead of the season-opener at Portimao, the #58 discussed her journey to this stage of her career, goals for the season and her idols.

YEAR ONE GOALS: “The objective for this year is to fight in the front group and try to fight for the title…”

Although Ramos has had a taste of WorldWCR in the past, thanks to a wildcard at Jerez where she stunned the paddock, the #58 is now facing her rookie season. It got off to an almost-perfect start at Portimao when she finished second in Race 1, before fighting back to claim victory on the last lap of Race 2 ahead of Maria Herrera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR). Ramos spoke about her goals for the season ahead of the Portuguese Round.

Ramos stated: “It’s my first year here, like a rookie. I’ll start without pressure. I have to learn a lot of things and enjoy a lot. The objective for this year is to fight in the front group, take a lot of points to try to fight for the title at the end of the year. The biggest challenge for me this year will be to learn the tracks and being fast in a short time. I don’t know the tracks, only Portimao and Jerez. I think being fast in this short time will be challenging for me.”

THE #58’S JOURNEY: “I started when I was four because I wanted to learn and my parents gifted me a little motorbike”

Like a lot of young riders looking to make their mark, Ramos started her journey to the World Championship when she was four and started racing when she was five. Budget issues meant she was forced to stop for a few years, but the family of the late Hugo Millan gave her an opportunity to restart her career in the Spanish STK600 team, under the Superhugo 44 Team banner. From there, Ramos kicked on, competing in the Spanish Yamaha R7 cup, finishing third, before her wildcard appearance at Jerez at the end of 2025.

Looking back on her career path, Ramos stated: “I started when I was four years old, because I wanted to learn and my parents gifted me a little motorbike, and I started racing when I was five. In 2020, I had to stop because I didn’t have money. I restarted in 2024. I knew the family of ‘super Hugo’, Hugo Millan. Our relationship is so good. They gave me the opportunity to rejoin racing. 2025 was the first year I did completely since stopping.”

WILDCARD WIN: “This victory was special for me because it was first victory after stopping”

While enjoying success domestically, Ramos made her name on the world stage with a wildcard in WorldWCR at the season finale. She was third on the grid, behind title contenders Herrera and Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), and finished fourth in Race 1 after an irresponsible riding penalty dropped her from P1 to P4. However, with the title fight still raging in Race 2, she made amends as she dominated the race; winning by almost ten seconds in what was is the largest winning margin in WorldWCR history.

Looking back on that ‘special’ win, Ramos said: “I knew that I could stay in the front part of the group because, throughout the year, I was racing in the Spanish championship, and I was very fast. I thought I could stay in the front group and fight for the podium. The second race was amazing, with a lot of emotions. I was super happy and nervous. This victory was special for me because it was first victory after stopping.”

IDOLS GROWING UP: “For me, Maria was an idol and my reference”

The 18-year-old also discussed her rivals, which include Herrera. The #6, immediately after winning the 2025 title, praised Ramos and said she would be her rival in 2026. After one round and two races, where they each shared a win and a P2, it looks like Herrera’s prediction could come true although Neila was close to the duo as well. Ramos explained her rivals, and also why she runs with the #58 plate: “For me, Maria was an idol and my reference. It’s a pleasure that she said those words. My idols since I was very young were always Maria, Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez. The number is for Marco Simoncelli because I really liked his style.”

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