Race 1 Highlights:
Ana Carrasco of the Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team triumphed in Race 1 at Donington Park, finishing half a second ahead after an intense four-way contest.
The first WorldWCR race of the weekend featured polesitter Carrasco competing fiercely with fellow Spaniards Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team), Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team), and Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha).
Less than a second separated the quartet as they battled for podium positions, with Neila and Sanchez eventually joining Carrasco on the rostrum, just ahead of current championship leader Herrera.
Throughout the twelve-lap race, the frontrunners maintained a rapid pace, with Neila clocking the fastest lap time of 1’39.593 on lap eleven, earning her pole position for Sunday’s Race 2.
Lap 5 saw a minor crash for Emily Bondi (YART Zelos Black Knights Team), but the French rider managed to rejoin and finish the race, albeit at the back of the pack. British competitor Alyssia Whitmore (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) also crashed and was deemed unfit to continue due to a left wrist contusion.
On the last lap, American Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) crashed at turn 12, leading to a 3-second penalty for fellow rider Lucy Michel (TSL-Racing) for irresponsible riding.
Championship Standings:
Maria Herrera maintains her lead in the WorldWCR standings with 63 points, followed closely by Ana Carrasco with 61 points and Sara Sanchez with 52 points.
Key Points:
- Pole position: Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) – 1’40.581
- Race 1 winner: Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team)
- Race fastest lap: Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) – 1’39.593
P1 | Ana Carrasco | Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team
“It was challenging because I didn’t expect the leading group to be so large; some riders made significant improvements between yesterday and today. However, I gained confidence as the race progressed. The slipstream was crucial, especially with the wind along the back straight, but I stayed calm and maintained a strong pace. On the final lap, I decided to push hard to avoid any difficult situations in the last turns. My strategy paid off, and although I expected them to try passing in the final corners, I’m thrilled with the win since it’s been a while since my last victory. I’ll do my best to repeat this tomorrow, though it will be more challenging as everyone is improving with each session. We’ll also need to see if the weather stays dry. We’ll keep working to make another step forward and see what we can achieve.”
P2 | Beatriz Neila | Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha
“The race went really well; we were all strong from start to finish, and I managed to set the fastest lap time on lap eleven. Before the race, I didn’t think I’d be able to fight like that because I had a few issues with the rear this morning. But we made a change to the bike, and it worked perfectly. I’m so pleased with my first podium and want to thank the whole team for their help and support. Tomorrow, I expect a similar race and will do everything I can to score another top-three result.”
P3 | Sara Sanchez | 511 Terra&Vita Racing Team
“It was tough at first, and I thought the others had a bit more than us, but we managed to fight at the front. I spent most of the race in third, and then Neila passed me, and I realized I was fourth with Ponziani not far behind. I didn’t want to miss out on the podium, so I reacted on the last lap and moved up to second before Neila got back in front, and I ultimately crossed the line third. It was a great race, and I’m happy with the result. The important thing is that we’ve scored solid points. I think Race 2 will be similar, with a group of four or five of us battling for the top three; I’m looking forward to getting back out there again tomorrow.”
WorldWCR Race 1 Results
1. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros. Racing Yamaha Team)
2. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.511s
3. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) +0.726s
4. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) +0.890s
5. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +3.476s
6. Ran Yochay (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) +23.621s
Fastest Lap: Beatriz Neila, 1’39.593s
WorldWCR action resumes on Saturday with Warm Up from 9:20 (Local Time), followed by Race 2 at 12:20.
Official WorldWCR WorldSBK Press Release
