Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship heads into Round 4 of 6 at Cremona circuit on September 20 – 22. The Spanish rider, Maria Herrera leads the Championship on 129 points with fellow compatriots – Ana Carrasco on 122, Sara Sanchez on 108, and Beatriz Neila rounding out the top 4 on 83 points.
The debut all-female Series has produced tight racing amongst the top tier of women rider’s with super close margins deciding podium standings on board the homologated Yamaha YZF-R7 bikes. Klint Forward Factory Team rider, Maria Herrera has claimed double race wins at the Opening Round in Misano, followed by Race 2 win at Donington Park and Race 1 win at Portimao, and Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team rider, Ana Carrasco, has taken victory in Race 1 at Donington Park followed by Race 2 win at Portimao.
The opportunity for the best women SBK rider’s to experience racing the World WCR within 6 WSBK weekend’s can not be under-estimated for all 23 rider’s on the grid. For certain, Maria and Ana bring a wealth of experience to the track, which in turn fosters competitive drive and determination for the younger women to ramp up levels of performance from one Round to the next.
Notably, protagonists Sara Sanchez and Beatriz Neila have pushed their race times up the table board, making for exciting racing amongst the top 4, with Sanchez scoring consistent P2 and P3 podiums in every race, and Neila taking nice P2 in Race 1 at Donington Park. Highlighting the upward trajectory of 26 year old Sanchez, and 22 year old Neila, are the gaps within the top 4 at Round 3, Race 2 at Portimao with Carrasco taking the win from Sara – gap of 0.025, to Herrera gap of 0.120, to Nelia gap of 1.825 seconds.
The women placed P5 through to P8 overall after Rounds 1 – 3 are equally close in race times, albeit approximately 26 seconds adrift from the top group. Italian rider Roberta Ponziani narrowly leads Spain’s PS Racing Team 46+1 rider Pakita Ruiz on 56 and 50 points respectively, with Israel’s Ran Yochay in P7 on 42 and Australia’s Tayla Relph in P8 on 29 points. Yochay displayed talent on the bike scoring P5 in Race 2 at Donington Park, a mere 0.282 over Relph who finished in P6.
Heading into World WCR Round 4 at Cremona circuit on September 20 – 22, wild card entry of NZ’s Avalon Biddle is a welcome addition to the grid. Having carved a career racing in Europe, Asia, Australia, and NZ from 2009 to the present day, Avalon’s achievements speak volumes on the tenacity, grit, and sheer will power on setting goals and producing results within a most physically, technically, mentally, and financially demanding sport.
Coming full circle, Avalon can take well deserved congratulations on pursuing her passion to race, with career highlights on winning the European Women’s Junior Cup run within the European Junior Cup at WSBK Rounds – 2x in 2015 and 2016, along with becoming the first female to win NZSBK National Championship 600cc in 2019.
For sure, all eyes will be watching when World WCR rider’s hit the track from Free Practice on Friday through to Superpole and Race 1 and 2 over the weekend of September 20 – 22.
Ana Carrasco takes the win in Round 3 Race 2 at Portimao Credit: World WCR
Header photo: Maria Herrera #6 leads Ana Carrasco #22 in World WCR 2024 Image: WSBK
Words: Sharon Cox.
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