Superpole Recap – Friday, Donington Park:
Under the scorching skies of Donington Park, Spain’s Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) delivered a standout performance to claim her maiden pole position ahead of Saturday’s WorldWCR Race 1. Her flying lap of 1’39.687 not only secured the top spot on the grid but also shattered the existing Superpole record at the historic British venue.
Neila’s late-session charge came just in time to edge out current championship leader Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team), who had dominated the timing sheets for much of the qualifying session. Herrera, also from Spain, ended up a close second, trailing Neila by just 0.140 seconds.
Completing an all-Spanish front row, Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) steadily improved throughout the session and secured third place. The trio of Neila, Herrera, and Sanchez—who all stood on the Donington podium last year—look well poised to repeat their success.
The competition was equally intense for the second row. French rider Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-Yamaha) impressed with a consistent run, clinching fourth on the grid. Meanwhile, British hopeful Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) gave her home fans reason to cheer by grabbing fifth, showing strong form and confidence as the local favorite. Just behind her, Cremona race winner Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) slotted into sixth, rounding out row two.
Starting from the third row will be Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno), followed by Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team), and Australia’s Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing), all within striking distance for a solid race performance.
New Zealander Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) claimed tenth place, remarkably posting the exact same time as Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha), who will line up in eleventh due to the timing of their laps.
Two one-off wildcard entries are also joining the grid this weekend: Italy’s Denise Dal Zotto (Affinity Sports Academy Rokit Rookies) qualified in 15th, while Australia’s Tara Morrison (Tara Morrison Racing) will start from 20th.
Meanwhile, Karol Bezie from Mexico makes her debut as a substitute for regular Pons Italika rider Isis Carreno, who is sidelined for this round while recovering from recent surgery.
Top Three Riders Reflect on Qualifying:
P1 – Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) – 1’39.687
“This is such a special moment—it’s my first pole position ever, and to get it here at Donington makes it even better. I’ve been training hard for this round, so to see that effort pay off feels incredible. After this morning’s free practice, we tweaked a few things on the bike, and it made a real difference. During my fastest lap, I was aware I was a bit behind Maria in the early sectors, but I stayed calm, focused on my rhythm, and pushed hard through the second and third parts of the track. I’m thrilled to start from pole, but I know tomorrow won’t be easy—Maria and Sara are both fast, and I’ll need to bring my best again.”
P2 – Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) – 1’39.827
“Donington is always a fun and technical circuit, so I was really looking forward to coming back here. It’s been two months since I last rode the bike, so I took today as a bit of a rebuild. I managed to lead most of the session, but a brake issue cropped up in the final laps, which limited my potential a bit. Still, I’m happy with second and glad I could challenge for pole. Beatriz was very strong today—credit to her—but we’ll go over the data and see what we can improve for the race. Braking is key at this track, so that’s our priority for now.”
P3 – Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) – 1’39.928
“Today was a really positive day. After a difficult outing at Cremona, it feels great to be competitive again and line up on the front row. Being so close to Maria and Beatriz gives me confidence that I can be right in the mix during the race. I’ll try to stay with them and push for the podium. It’s always special to be up front at Donington—it’s a track that suits me, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”
Superpole Classification – Top 6:
- Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) – 1’39.687
- Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) – +0.140
- Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha) – +0.241
- Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-Yamaha) – +0.659
- Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) – +0.974
- Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) – +1.121
Analysis:
This Superpole session marks a turning point in Neila’s season and possibly her career. Not only did she take her first pole, but she did it by setting a lap record, under pressure, and on one of the most technical tracks in the UK. With top contenders like Herrera and Sanchez so close behind, Saturday’s Race 1 promises to be a thrilling battle at the front. Home hero Chloe Jones and consistent threats like Boudesseul and Ponziani also look ready to shake up the order—especially with unpredictable Donington weather always lurking as a wildcard factor.
Official WorldWCR Press Release
