The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship provided the first racing action of the day at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, as the paddock took to the track on Saturday morning. Despite a dominant ride from Championship leader Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team), she was unable to hold off her closest rival Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) from taking P1 in Race 1. The #22 rider managed to achieve P2 on the line from Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) who completed the Jerez rostrum.
FOUR WAY BATTLE: Lead group battle for Jerez glory
Perfect track conditions set the stage for the 11-lap race around the Spanish circuit. Fresh from her Estoril win, Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) was determined to replicate her Portuguese success, but despite a pole position start, fell to fourth position, as Championship contenders Carrasco and Herrera were strong from lights out and led the field into the first corner. Neila and Italian rider Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) also displayed impressive launches, as they remained within the leading group in the opening stages of Race 1.
6 FOR #6: Herrera on top step of podium once again
Sanchez soon recovered from her poor race start however, as she regained momentum and took charge of the race with seven laps to go ahead of the #6 and #22, with Neila completing the leading group. Ponziani struggled to maintain the race pace at the front of the field, dropping back to the chasing group in fifth.
SANCHEZ OUT: #64 crashes from P1 on final lap
The four-way fight for Spanish glory unfolded throughout the eleven laps, as the riders continuously jostled for the top positions. Further back, a crash at turn 13 for American Sonya Lloyd (Lloyd Motorsports) ended her race with only three laps remaining and shortly after this, a clash between Yamaha’s Adela Ourednickova (DafitMotoracing by Smrz) and Emily Bondi (YART Zelos Black Knights Team) at turn 6 on lap 9 saw the two riders end up in the gravel. The Spanish spectators were treated to a thrilling last lap battle between the leading group however, where an unfortunate crash for the dominant #64 rider Sanchez, opened the door for Hererra, Carrasco and Neila to battle it out for the top step of the podium.
CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER: Title winner will be crowned in Race 2
The experience of 28-year-old Herrera was evident in the closing stages of the race, as she took control and rode across the chequered flag to claim first; her sixth win of the season. It was down to the wire for second position however, as a strong ride from Neila looked like she was on course for silverware, yet, taking advantage of her slipstream, was title leader Carrasco who pipped the #36 on the line to take P2. Ponziani secured a solid fourth place, whilst Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) and Britain’s Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) rounded off the top six. Race 2 will now decide who becomes the first ever FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship winner, but will it be Carrasco or Herrera riding to glory in Jerez?
The top six from WorldWCR Race 2, full results here:
1. María Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team)
2. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.585s
3. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.606s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +14.322s
5. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +19.733s
6. Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) +19.974s
Fastest lap: Sara Sánchez – 1’51.533s
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Source: WorldSBK.com