A five-rider thriller at Magny-Cours has transformed the WorldWCR Championship picture, with Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) snatching a sensational Race 2 win to cut Maria Herrera’s (Klint Forward Racing Team) lead to just six points.
Race 2 Drama at Magny-Cours
Sunday’s contest was everything fans could hope for — aggressive overtakes, constant lead changes, and a dash to the finish line that kept everyone on edge. The race quickly developed into a tight-knit scrap involving five front-runners: Neila, Herrera, Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport), Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha), and Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing).
In the end, Neila timed her charge to perfection. Making the most of slipstreams and avoiding costly errors, she crossed the line just 0.130s ahead of Jones to claim her second win of the season — and perhaps the most important of her career so far.
The victory has reignited the WorldWCR title fight, slashing Herrera’s championship advantage to a slender six points heading into the final round at Jerez.
Herrera Loses Ground
Race 1 winner Herrera was again in the mix and looked set for another podium finish. But in the final laps, she was outmaneuvered by both Neila and Boudesseul, eventually crossing the line in fourth place.
That result is significant: not only does it mark Herrera’s first non-podium finish of the year, but it also means she surrendered a dozen championship points to her nearest rival. For a rider who had looked nearly untouchable for much of the season, the pressure is suddenly back on.
Jones’ Consistency Pays Off
Pole-sitter Chloe Jones once again showed her growing maturity and consistency in the WorldWCR field. Determined to fight for her maiden win, the Brit battled hard all race long but ultimately had to settle for second place for the second time in France.
Still, Jones leaves Magny-Cours with an impressive 40-point haul from two podiums — a weekend that has rocketed her to just three points shy of third place in the overall standings. Her form suggests that a first victory is not far away.
Boudesseul Delights Home Crowd
The loudest cheers of the weekend were reserved for Lucie Boudesseul. The French rider attacked with confidence, even taking the lead at one stage, before securing her first podium of the season with third place. To achieve it at her home race made the moment even more special, and it may prove a turning point in her campaign.
The Rest of the Top Ten
- Roberta Ponziani backed up her Saturday fourth with a P5 on Sunday, keeping her third place in the championship intact — though now only barely ahead of Jones.
- Natalia Rivera repeated her Race 1 sixth place, her best weekend of the year, collecting 20 points in total and finding momentum at the right time.
- Avalon Lewis bounced back from a difficult Saturday to secure seventh, a solid finish after a challenging French round.
- Justine Pedemonte, the wildcard home favorite, impressed on debut. The Frenchwoman added P8 on Sunday to her P7 in Race 1, ending the weekend with 17 points and proving she can mix it with the World Championship regulars.
- Pakita Ruiz added another seven points with P9, while
- Mallory Dobbs continued her steady improvement, matching her Race 1 result with another 10th place finish — her strongest weekend yet in 2025.
Incidents and Penalties
Not everyone’s weekend went to plan. Australian Tayla Relph was disqualified after failing to serve a double long-lap penalty for a jump start. Meanwhile, Sara Sanchez and Emily Bondi were sidelined after their Race 1 crashes left them unfit to compete. Bondi’s incident also resulted in a Sunday long-lap penalty for Sonya Lloyd (Team Trasimeno), who was found to have been involved.
Championship Standings After Magny-Cours
- 1st – Maria Herrera (210 points)
- 2nd – Beatriz Neila (204 points) – now just six points back
- 3rd – Roberta Ponziani (136 points)
- 4th – Chloe Jones (133 points) – only three points shy of third
- 5th – Sara Sanchez (111 points) – despite missing Race 2
With only Jerez left, the title will be decided on home soil for both Herrera and Neila, adding even more intrigue to what is shaping up to be a blockbuster finale.
Rider Reactions
Beatriz Neila (Race Winner):
“Today was really tough. In a group of five at the front, one mistake can cost you everything, so I stayed calm and waited for the right moment. We fixed the issues from yesterday and the bike felt great. To leave Magny-Cours just six points behind Maria feels incredible, but I’ll approach Jerez like every other race: same preparation, same mindset.”
Chloe Jones (2nd Place):
“I’m so happy with another podium, but now I just want that win! The battle today was amazing — close but clean, with a lot of slipstreaming and side-by-side action. I’m confident we can push even harder at Jerez, a track I know well from last year.”
Lucie Boudesseul (3rd Place):
“To get my first podium here in France is a dream come true. At one point I was even leading, which was a surprise! I just want to enjoy this moment and keep learning heading into Jerez.”
Final Thoughts
The 2025 WorldWCR season has been thrilling from start to finish, but Magny-Cours may have delivered its biggest twist yet. What looked like Herrera’s championship to lose is now anything but certain, as Neila’s relentless push has set up a grand finale in Jerez. With Jones chasing her first win and Boudesseul buoyed by her breakthrough podium, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion on Spanish soil.
Images WorldWCR
