Maria Herrera Triumphs in Tactical Duel to Take Race 1 Victory at Balaton Park

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Race 1 Summary:

Maria Herrera proved once again why she’s the rider to beat in the 2025 WorldWCR championship, delivering a commanding performance to win Race 1 at the Balaton Park Circuit. The Klint Forward Racing rider showed both speed and race craft to build a decisive lead in the second half of the 11-lap contest, eventually crossing the line over a second clear of the chasing pack. It marks her fourth victory of the season and a critical step forward in the title fight.

Chloe Jones of GR Motosport had her work cut out after being handed a three-place grid penalty following qualifying. But far from letting it hinder her, the British racer used it as fuel, fighting hard throughout a chaotic race that saw her battling within the top four throughout. In a last-lap showdown, Jones made a brave and clinical overtake to snatch second place — the best result of her WorldWCR career to date.

Championship contender Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) was in the thick of the action from the start and even led at one stage. However, a small misstep through the final chicane cost her dearly, forcing her to settle for third. While clearly disappointed to miss out on second, the Spaniard managed to minimise the championship damage, banking another 16 valuable points.

After an impressive showing in the morning warm-up, Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) had a tougher start to the race. A sluggish getaway saw her lose ground early on, but the Italian dug deep and carved her way back to fourth place. She also clocked the fastest lap of the race with a 1’53.338, securing pole position for Sunday’s second outing.

Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha) started steadily and gradually reeled in the lead group. At one point she moved up to second, looking like a strong podium contender. But in the closing laps, the Spaniard was unable to hold her ground and eventually crossed the line in fifth — still a solid result for her championship campaign.

Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team), starting from the second row, delivered one of her most impressive races of the season. The experienced Spaniard stayed locked in the mid-pack battles and maintained a strong, consistent pace to claim sixth — another solid points haul for her.

South Africa’s Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) had a lively opening few laps, running inside the top five early on. Though she eventually slipped back, she stayed composed and consistent to finish seventh, matching her best result of the season so far.

Carl Cox Motorsports’ Avalon Lewis continued her string of reliable finishes with eighth, while Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha) crossed the line in ninth, both riders showing signs of potential they’ll look to unlock further in Race 2.

Rounding out the top ten was Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA), who made the most of the race chaos to secure more points for her team. Just behind her came teammate Sara Varon, making a one-off appearance and doing well to bring her bike home in 11th.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a clean race for everyone. Ornella Ongaro crashed out on the opening lap and was later diagnosed with a fractured right humerus by the medical team. The French rider has been ruled out of the rest of the weekend and transferred to Veszprém Hospital for further treatment. Later in the race, Australia’s Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing) also suffered a fall, but thankfully escaped injury.

Championship Standings After Race 1:

Maria Herrera extends her lead with 156 points
Beatriz Neila remains in close contention on 138
Sara Sanchez sits third with 100 points
Roberta Ponziani just one behind on 99
Chloe Jones strengthens her fifth-place standing with 73

Race 1 Key Stats:

Pole Position: Beatriz Neila – 1’53.526
Race Winner: Maria Herrera
Fastest Lap: Roberta Ponziani – 1’53.338

Post-Race Quotes:

🏁 P1 – Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team)
“I’m really pleased with this win. It was a proper battle in the early laps, lots of overtaking and pressure, but I stayed calm and tried to manage the race. I still feel like I’m getting to know this circuit — it’s quite technical and I’m working on a few corners. But the team gave me a great bike today and I was able to build a gap late in the race. The championship is going well so far, but I won’t relax — there’s still work to do. If it rains tomorrow, it’ll be a different challenge, but we’ll adapt.”

🏁 P2 – Chloe Jones (GR Motosport)
“That was probably the most exciting race I’ve had so far! There was so much back-and-forth, so many close battles — but I learned a lot today. These riders are all pushing so hard, and it really teaches you how to step up. Second place feels amazing — it’s even better than the podium I got at Donington. The penalty set me back, but I used it as motivation. The team have been fantastic and I really believe we can challenge again tomorrow.”

🏁 P3 – Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha)
“It wasn’t the easiest race, but I gave everything I had. I felt strong at the start and was able to lead for a bit, which was great. Unfortunately, I made a small mistake in the final chicane and lost time right at the end. It was frustrating, but I still picked up good points and kept the pressure on in the championship. Starting fourth tomorrow means I’ll need a strong launch, but I’ll be giving it 100%.”