Maria Herrera takes Round 4 Race 1 win with a battle royal playing out between the top 6 rider’s heading into Race 2 tomorrow. Leading a total of 9 laps from 11, the Klint Forward Racing Team rider displayed exemplary race-craft skills to hold off British rider Chloe Jones and fellow Spanish rider – Beatriz Neila who finished P2 and P3 respectively.
Most importantly, while Herrera consolidated her Championship lead by 18 points over Neila, Chloe Jones proved her first podium at Round 3 at Donington Park 2 weeks prior was no one-off – pushing Herrera and Neila every lap and taking best sector times in sections 2 and 4. Chloe’s result of P2 adds further scope to rider’s matching the race speed and experience of Herrera and Neila who have stood on the podium at every race and every Round this season.
Equally impressive was Italy’s Roberta Ponziani who executed a timely pass on Sara Sanchez in lap 10 to close the gap to 1 point between Sanchez in P3 and Ponziani in P4 overall. Taking the best sector time in section 1 and setting the fastest lap of 1’53.338, Ponziani will spearhead the charge top of the starting grid for Race 2 with Sanchez, Herrera, Neila, Jones, and Pakita Ruiz rounding out the top 6.
Heading into Race 2 on Sunday, predicted rain could unsettle the racing order, along with prompting rider’s ability to produce their best possible performance on a wet track. All eyes will be fixed who goes into the first corner up front, who survives the 11 laps unscathed, and who holds track position to stand on the podium with only 2 Rounds to go.
Header photo: Maria Herrera taking Round 4 Race 1 win at Balaton Park Image: World WCR.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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