Ponziani Triumphs at Home with Stunning Last-Lap Pass in WorldWCR Race 1 at Cremona

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A Thrilling Duel at the Front

Italian fans were treated to a dramatic and emotional WorldWCR Race 1 at Cremona Circuit, as local favourite Roberta Ponziani delivered a career-defining victory in front of her home crowd. Racing for Klint Forward Racing, Ponziani overcame teammate and polesitter Maria Herrera in a tense head-to-head battle that was only settled on the final lap.

Ponziani, who qualified second on Friday, got an excellent launch off the line and remained locked in a tight chase behind Herrera throughout the race. With the home crowd urging her on, she made her move at the perfect moment—on the final lap—to snatch her first-ever WorldWCR race win.

Neila Keeps the Pressure On

While all eyes were on the leading Klint Forward duo, Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) quietly executed a well-managed race to secure third place. The Spaniard never lost contact with the front-runners and crossed the line less than four tenths behind Ponziani. Her consistency continues to pay off, keeping her firmly in the championship fight.

Madrigal Fights Back to Fourth

Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA), who started third on the grid, dropped down to sixth on lap three but refused to fade from the battle. The Mexican rider methodically worked her way back up the order, overtaking both Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) and Sara Sanchez (Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) in the latter part of the race to claim fourth. It was a smart, calculated ride that added valuable points to her tally.

Sanchez Solid in Fifth

Sanchez followed Madrigal across the line just three-tenths behind, taking a solid fifth place and keeping her own championship hopes on track. Despite the fierce mid-pack battle, she maintained her composure and added another top-five finish to her record.

Rookies Impress and Recover

Avalon Lewis started well but lost ground in the second half of the race. Nonetheless, the New Zealander finished as the highest-placed rookie in sixth, showing continued growth in her debut season. Australian Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing) followed in seventh after a steady ride.

Further down the field, French rookie Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) delivered her best result yet. Starting 14th, she clawed her way up to eighth with a determined ride over 12 laps, gaining six positions and showcasing her racecraft.

Tough Day for Regular Contenders

Isis Carreno (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) and Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team), both usually in the mix for points, were unable to break into the top eight and had to settle for ninth and tenth respectively. Both riders struggled to match the pace of the frontrunners in the high temperatures.

Fastest Lap and Pole for Race 2

As if winning her home race wasn’t enough, Ponziani also set the fastest lap of the race—a 1’40.496 on the final lap—which guarantees her pole position for Race 2 on Sunday. Neila will start alongside her in second, with Herrera completing the front row.

Wildcards and Penalties

Wild card entry Denise Dal Zotto (Affinity Sports Academy Rokit Rookies) gave the home fans even more to cheer about by securing her first championship point with a 15th-place finish.

France’s Ornella Ongaro, serving a long lap penalty carried over from Assen due to prior irresponsible riding, made up several places to finish 18th.

Incidents and Injuries

Lap 1 proved costly for two riders—Emily Bondi (ZELOS Trasimeno) and Mallory Dobbs (Diva Racing)—who both crashed out early. Thankfully, neither rider was injured.

However, Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) was less fortunate. The South African crashed at Turn 1 and sustained a left shoulder contusion, a bruise to her right arm, and an abrasion to her left elbow. She will be assessed before warm-up on Sunday to determine if she can compete in Race 2.

Championship Standings After Race 1

1st – Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing): 65 points
2nd – Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha): 61 points
3rd – Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing): 49 points

Rider Reactions: Quotes from the Podium Finishers

🥇 Roberta Ponziani – Klint Forward Racing Team

“I knew I could be fast here, but I also knew it would be tough to beat Maria today. We tried to build a gap, but Beatriz stuck with us the whole way. I knew I had the advantage in the final part of the track, so I waited for my chance and made the move down the straight on the last lap. Seeing the crowd celebrate with me was incredible. This win means so much—it’s for my team, my fans, and everyone who’s supported me. Tomorrow’s another challenge, but I’ll be going for the win again.”

🥈 Maria Herrera – Klint Forward Racing Team

“It was a strong race for me—I pushed hard and stayed focused every lap. Of course, leading until the last lap and finishing second is frustrating, but it’s still a fantastic result for the team. Roberta rode really well and deserved the win. I’ll need to review everything before Race 2 because I think the others learned a lot about how I ride today.”

🥉 Beatriz Neila – Ampito Crescent Yamaha

“It was a difficult race because I didn’t have the best feeling on the bike in these hot conditions. At the start, I thought I might be able to go for the win, but I decided to hold on to third rather than risk a crash. It’s a good result for the championship, and I’m thankful to the team for their work. I’ll try to be more aggressive tomorrow and go for the victory.”