Herrera Tops the Timesheets as WorldWCR Testing Wraps Up, Eyes Set on Assen Opener

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Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team)

Maria Herrera Sets the Benchmark as WorldWCR Testing Concludes at Cremona

Tight Field Prepares for Historic Season Opener at Assen

CREMONA, ITALY – The final official pre-season test for the 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship wrapped up at Cremona Circuit, setting the stage for a competitive and closely matched grid ahead of the series’ highly anticipated debut in Assen this weekend.

After two days of intense track action—including six Free Practice sessions and a morning Warm-Up—Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) emerged as the fastest rider overall. Her best time of 1:40.503 capped a strong performance across 67 laps, signaling her return to peak form and renewed confidence heading into the opening round.

Herrera’s teammate Roberta Ponziani also impressed, improving significantly on Day 2 with a lap of 1:40.737—over two tenths quicker than her Day 1 time of 1:41.016—securing second overall with 62 laps completed.

Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), who topped the Day 1 timesheets with a 1:40.545, maintained a strong presence in third place overall. She completed 62 laps and focused on refining her existing setup, confirming consistency and pace that will make her a title contender from the outset.

Riders Show Strong Progress Across the Field

Several riders made notable gains across the test. Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) recorded the biggest improvement, jumping from 12th on Day 1 (1:43.032) to fifth on Day 2 (1:41.611), a remarkable turnaround in just one day.

Astrid Madrigal (Italika Racing FIMLA) also showed strong progress, improving by over six-tenths to finish fourth overall, despite only riding in the morning sessions on the final day.

Rookie Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) demonstrated consistent development, closing out the test in eighth position with a 1:41.951, while Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha) narrowly missed the top ten, clocking a 1:42.373.

Track Activity and Incidents

In total laps completed, Lucy Michel (TSL-Racing) led the way with 94 laps across the two days, maximizing her track time ahead of Round 1. On the other end, Mallory Dobbs (MKD Racing Team) registered the fewest with 34 laps, while Czech rider Adela Ourednickova missed the second day of running due to ESBK Championship duties.

The second session of Day 2 saw two crashes at Turn 6 involving Beatrice Barbera (Team GP3 AD11) and Madalena Simoes (FB Racing Team). Neither incident resulted in injury, though both riders lost valuable testing time.

Riders Reflect on Test Results

Maria Herrera (P1 – Klint Forward Racing Team):
“I’m really happy because I got my confidence back, and that means a lot to me. I finally felt like I could ride the way I wanted, so I really enjoyed the test. We tried many things, especially since the cold conditions affected tire grip early on, but by the afternoon, I felt strong again. I came close to the lap record and had a great time riding with the other girls. Now, I’m ready to fly to Assen!”

Beatriz Neila (P2 – Ampito Crescent Yamaha):
“Today went really well. I matched my Day 1 time, so I’m pleased with that. We didn’t make major changes—just focused on details like the handlebars. I already felt good with the bike. I’m happy with the team’s effort, and we’ve got a solid base going into Assen. My goal there is to enjoy it and fight for the podium.”

Roberta Ponziani (P3 – Klint Forward Racing Team):
“I feel good! The team and I are making progress, even though everything is still new for me. I know I need to work on braking and corner speed, but I’m confident we’ll get there. I’ve never raced at Assen before, so I don’t know what to expect—but I’m excited for the challenge.”

Tight Gaps Hint at Fierce Season Opener in Assen

The top three riders were separated by just 0.280 seconds by the end of the test, while the midfield showed an equally tight spread—setting the tone for a highly competitive inaugural WorldWCR campaign.

All eyes now turn to the TT Circuit Assen, where the historic Pirelli Dutch Round will launch the 2025 season from April 11–13. With talent stacked throughout the grid and momentum building from Cremona, the stage is set for a landmark weekend in women’s motorcycle racing.