Neila Delivers Again: Spaniard Clinches Pole at Balaton Park

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Superpole Summary:

Beatriz Neila continued her impressive form by grabbing pole position at the brand-new Balaton Park Circuit, marking her second consecutive Superpole triumph after topping the timesheets at Donington just weeks ago.

Neila, representing the Ampito Crescent Yamaha team, made the most of the unfamiliar Hungarian track, putting together a precise and confident lap of 1’52.526. Despite the challenges of learning a fresh layout and managing tricky qualifying conditions, she once again proved why she’s a rising star in the field.

Just three-tenths behind was championship leader Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team), who showed her grit by pushing hard despite having no prior test experience at the venue. The Spaniard steadily improved through the day and finished with a front-row start, well within striking distance of her main rival.

Britain’s Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) continues to gain momentum this season. After a podium finish at Donington, Jones backed it up by qualifying third — her best Superpole result to date. She was consistently quick throughout both Friday sessions and looked fully at ease with the circuit, likely helped by a private test she completed here earlier in the year.

Despite suffering a crash in morning practice, Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) refused to let it derail her weekend. The Italian lost valuable track time but bounced back with determination to secure fourth place on the grid — a testament to her resilience and focus.

Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) also made a strong impression. The Spaniard put in a solid, composed ride to clinch fifth, confirming her capability to run near the front.

Championship contender Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) didn’t have it easy but dug deep and earned herself a second-row start in sixth. The current third-place rider in the standings will be looking to minimize any points lost in the upcoming race.

France’s Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) continued her steady form. After a strong showing at Donington, she qualified seventh at Balaton — only two-tenths off Ponziani — showing she’s capable of breaking into the top five if she finds another gear come race time.

New Zealand’s Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) also impressed in qualifying, securing eighth with a clean and confident run. She’ll line up on the third row alongside Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team), who slotted into ninth to complete a competitive grid for Saturday’s Race 1.

Top Rider Reactions from Superpole

🏁 P1 – Beatriz Neila | Ampito Crescent Yamaha | 1’52.526

“I’m thrilled to take my second pole in a row. Qualifying wasn’t easy — there was a lot of traffic and the conditions were tricky — but we managed it well. I like this circuit; I felt comfortable right from the first session, and it suits my riding style. The aim now is to carry this momentum into the race. I think Maria and I might pull away, but we’ll see what happens once the lights go out.”

🏁 P2 – Maria Herrera | Klint Forward Racing Team | 1’52.866

“This is my first time riding at Balaton since I couldn’t test here before. But I felt good on the bike right away. I kept improving with each lap, and I really think pole was possible — I just got held up by another rider during what could’ve been my fastest lap. Still, I’m happy with the front row. We’ll keep working to fine-tune the setup, and I’m definitely going all in to either beat Beatriz or at least stay close and score big points.”

🏁 P3 – Chloe Jones | GR Motosport | 1’54.120

“It’s been a really positive Friday for me. I was lucky to get some testing done here a couple of weeks ago, so that gave me a head start. I felt comfortable straight away, and I think that helped me find a good rhythm throughout the day. We’ve been looking at everything — track walks, data, anything that helps improve performance. After tasting the podium at Donington, I want more — and I believe I’ve got a shot at it this weekend.”