History was made at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” as the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship hit the track during its first round. The 25-minute Free Practice session was topped by Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) as she led a Spanish 1-2-3. The #64 was almost three tenths clear of her rivals as she started the inaugural WorldWCR campaign with top spot, fending off Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) in second and Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) in third.
The times rapidly dropped throughout FP as riders acclimatised to the bike, tyres and track and got more experience under their belt, with Sanchez posting a 1’49.743s for first place. Herrera was second, 0.272s back from her compatriot, while 2018 WorldSSP300 Champion Carrasco was six tenths away from Sanchez’s pace.
Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) had been running at the top in the early stages of the session but was demoted to fourth when the chequered flag well after posting a 1’50.397s. Ponziani was less than a tenth away from Carrasco, but she had a huge margin to Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) behind, with a second separating the pair. South Africa’s Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) completed the top six with a 1’51.438s.
Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) was seventh ahead of Chun Mei Liu (WT Racing Team Taiwan) in eighth, with just a few tenths separating the two riders. Germany’s Lucy Michel (TSL-Racing) posted a 1’52.415s to claim ninth while Isis Carreno (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3) completed the top ten. It was a dramatic end to the session as Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) and Mia Rusthen (Rusthen Racing) came together at Turn 13, while Krystal Silfa (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA) – standing in for the injured Sara Varon – crashed at Turn 2.
The top six from WorldWCR Free Practice, full results here:
1. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) 1’49.743s
2. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) +0.272s
3. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.592s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) ++0.654s
5. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +1.605s
6. Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) +1.695s
Watch the first ever WorldWCR Superpole session at 13:25 Local Time (UTC+2) on the WorldWCR YouTube and the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Source: WorldSBK.com