It was a historic day at the the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for Race 2 of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship as the first ever Champion was crowned in the final race of the 2024 season. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) rode an outstanding race to seal the Championship, but it was down to the last corner of the race for it to be decided, as her closest rival Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) crashed out of contention before the final straight.
HERRERA BATTLES: #6 fights at front in Race 2
11-laps unfolded at the Spanish circuit on Sunday morning, as the paddock took to the track for the final time in 2024. The Spanish fans focused their attention on Spanish rivals Herrera and Carrasco as the lights went out. It was the #6 rider who was strongest from the start of Race 2, as she led the group into the first few sectors ahead of Carrasco and an impressive Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) in third position.
BRIT IMPRESSES: Jones rides strong debut race
Heading into lap two, and it was Championship leader Carrasco who took charge of the race, overtaking into first ahead of Race 1 podium finisher Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Jones in P3. Herrera fell a few positions behind the leading trio, but soon recovered on lap three as she overtook back into second place and hunted down Carrasco. Despite a promising start for Debut rider Jones, after a jump start, she received a Double Long Lap Penalty which resulted in her falling to seventh, yet still within contention with the leading group.
LAST LAP DECIDER: Title goes down to the wire
As the laps passed by, it was Herrera who was leading with just three laps remaining, with Italian rider Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) and Sara Sánchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) chasing her down, with Carrasco in fifth. The excitement grew as the riders entered the final lap of the race, and it was Herrera who took the lead at turn 7 ahead of Sanchez, as the leading group of five rode into the final sectors of the circuit. Maria Herrera had ridden a well strategised race throughout, but it was soon to be unravelled as the pack headed into the final corner, with the #6 clipping the rear tyre of Sanchez and low siding into the gravel, crashing out of the race and the Championship win entirely.
CARRASCO MAKES HISTORY: 2024 champion
The remaining four riders sprinted to the chequered flag and it was Sanchez who stormed to P1, ahead of Neila and the new World Champion Carrasco. Just missing out on a podium spot was Ponziani with Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) taking fifth and Chloe Jones rounding off the top six finishers. Ana Carrasco, the 27-year-old Spanish rider has made history as she becomes the first ever FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Champion, and adds this to her name along with the 2018 Supersport 300 World Championship title. Herrera achieves second in the 2024 Championship standings ahead of Race 2 winner Sanchez who takes third.
The top six from WorldWCR Race 2, full results here:
1. Sara Sánchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team)
2. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.368s
3. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.639s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +0.722s
5. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +1.039s
6. Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) +10.927s
Fastest lap: María Herrera – 1’52.020s
Championship standings
1. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) 244 points
2. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) 215
3. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) 191
4. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 172
5. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) 135
6. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) 112
Congratulate Carrasco on her success using #ANAgain on social media and join the WorldWCR community on Instagram, X and Facebook, whilst watching all races on YouTube!
Source: WorldSBK.com