Herrera edges closer to the WorldWCR crown with sixth win of the season at Jerez

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Race 1 Report: Saturday Showdown at Jerez

Championship leader Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) strengthened her grip on the inaugural WorldWCR title with a commanding victory in Race 1 at Jerez, marking her sixth win of the season. The Spaniard converted pole position into maximum points in a tense nine-lap contest that was restarted following an initial procedural issue.

Behind her, Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) maintained her remarkable run of form to claim second place, celebrating her fifth consecutive podium finish and consolidating third in the standings. Meanwhile, Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) crossed the line in third, ensuring the championship battle remains alive heading into Sunday’s decisive race.

With 15 points now separating Herrera and Neila, the title will be decided in the season finale, guaranteeing one last showdown between the two rivals.

Ramos shines on debut but loses podium to penalty

The race produced plenty of drama from the outset. Wildcard entrant Paola Ramos (YVS Sabadell) stunned the field with a sensational debut performance, running inside the top three from the very first lap and even taking the lead in the closing stages.

However, her fairytale nearly came undone when she made light contact with Neila on the penultimate lap. The incident earned her a three-second penalty, relegating her from first across the line to fourth position in the final classification. Despite the setback, Ramos’ performance was one of the standout stories of the weekend — and her blistering 1’51.303 lap set a new lap record and secured her pole position for Sunday’s Race 2.

Herrera holds her nerve in a tactical contest

Herrera admitted post-race that she hadn’t expected to win, especially after a difficult Friday. “We had a few problems yesterday, so I didn’t know how things would go today,” she explained. “We changed the setup and just tried to manage the race. Bea, Chloe, and Paola were all really fast, so I focused on staying ahead of Bea — that was the main goal. The battles were clean, and honestly, Paola deserved the win today, but I’m still really happy with the result.”

Her experience and composure proved decisive in a race shortened to nine laps, as she carefully managed her tyres and avoided mistakes while her young challengers fought behind.

Podium reflections: Jones and Neila stay in contention

Chloe Jones, who continues to impress in her rookie WorldWCR season, was satisfied with another strong performance:

“I didn’t quite have the pace of the front three early on, but I’m happy with second. We’ve got a few things to tweak for tomorrow, and I’d love to end the year with my first win. My aim is to finish third overall and take Rookie of the Year, but if I can grab both, even better!”

Beatriz Neila, meanwhile, kept her title hopes alive with a measured ride to third.

“I felt strong and gave my best,” she said. “Paola’s penalty helped me get back on the podium, and that’s important because it keeps the championship open. I agree with the penalty — it was the right call. Tomorrow I’ll just focus on enjoying the race and giving it everything.”

Fierce midfield fights and heartbreak for Howden

Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing) claimed fifth after a late charge that saw her snatch the position from Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha) by just 0.006 seconds.

Australian Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing) brought her bike home in a solid seventh, leading a train of Spanish riders that included Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team), Sara Sánchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha), and Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha) — all scoring valuable points in front of their home crowd.

There was disappointment, however, for Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno), who crashed out at Turn 13 on the opening lap. The South African rider suffered a pelvic fracture and has been declared unfit for Race 2.

Race 1 Results

Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team)
Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) +0.291s
Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) +1.114s
Paola Ramos (YVS Sabadell) +2.686s (after 3s penalty)
Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) +5.503s
Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha) +5.509s
Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing)
Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team)
Sara Sánchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha)
Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha)
Fastest lap: Paola Ramos – 1’51.303 (new lap record)

Championship Standings After Race 1

Maria Herrera – 235 pts
Beatriz Neila – 220 pts
Chloe Jones – 153 pts
Roberta Ponziani – 147 pts
Sara Sánchez – 118 pts

With just one race remaining, the title remains mathematically open, but Herrera’s consistency means Neila must winon Sunday and hope her rival falters to have any chance of snatching the crown.

Ramos’ stunning debut and Jones’ relentless podium form have ensured the first-ever WorldWCR season ends on a high note — setting the stage for a thrilling finale at Jerez.