Ramos Rallies from Penalty to Win — Herrera Crowned WorldWCR Champion at Jerez

The Circuito de Jerez‑Ángel Nieto delivered a Race 1 to remember on Saturday, as Paola Ramos overcame a double long‑lap penalty to hunt down race‑long leader Beatriz Neila on the final lap and take victory. Behind them, Maria Herrera rode a calculated race to secure her second consecutive WorldWCR title — with one round still remaining.

Ramos Defies Penalty for Dramatic Victory

From pole position, Ramos made a blistering start and immediately pulled clear of the field. But her advantage vanished when officials handed her a double long‑lap penalty for a jump start — a blow that would typically end any hopes of a win. Undeterred, the Klint Racing rider served the penalty and set about reeling in the leaders, chipping away at the gap lap by lap.

Neila, riding superbly in her bid to keep her title hopes alive, had taken over the lead and looked set to claim her first Jerez win. But Ramos was on a charge — she posted a new lap record of 1’50.998s in the process — and closed right onto the back of Neila’s bike. On the final lap, she made a decisive move to snatch the lead and crossed the line just 0.167s ahead.

“When I saw the penalty I knew it would be really hard, but I didn’t give up,” Ramos said afterwards. “I served it, saw the gap to Beatriz coming down, and I just went for it on the last lap. I’m so happy — what a race. And that lap record? A nice bonus. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

Neila was gracious in defeat, extending her run of Jerez podiums to five from five and confirming second place in the championship:

“The bike felt perfect all race. I led for a long time and I thought I had it, but Paola was incredibly fast — fair play to her. I’m happy with second, and we’ll go all out to win tomorrow.”

Herrera Clinches Title — Strategic Ride Secures Crown

While the front two fought for the win, the biggest story of the day unfolded further back. Maria Herrera arrived at the weekend knowing a top‑10 finish would be enough to seal the title, and she rode with exactly that in mind. Running third in the early laps, she settled into a steady pace and conserved her tyres, eventually crossing the line in fifth — her first non‑podium finish of the season, but easily enough to secure the championship with a race to spare.

“I stayed calm and focused on what I needed to do,” Herrera explained. “It wasn’t the fastest race, but it was the smartest. I’m so proud to defend this title here in Spain in front of my home crowd. We’ve worked so hard all season, and now we can enjoy the moment — and maybe go for a better result tomorrow.”

Ponziani Wins Tussle for Third — Klint Teammates Battle On

Behind the lead pair, a frantic four‑way scrap for the final podium spot went down to the wire. Roberta Ponziani emerged victorious by just 0.1s, holding off a chasing group to claim her third podium of the season — and close the gap to teammate Ramos in the fight for third overall to just eight points.

Natalia Rivera was fourth, delivering her best result of the campaign, while rookie Yvonne Cerpa crossed the line fifth but was demoted to sixth after exceeding track limits on the final lap. Chloe Jones took full advantage to move up to seventh, finishing just four tenths of a second behind the podium battle and scoring strong points in the process.

Race 1 Results — Top 10

Championship Standings — Title Won, Fights Remain

What’s Next — Race 2 on Sunday

Ramos’s blistering lap record also secured her pole position for Sunday’s deciding race, where she will lead Neila and Cerpa onto the grid. The weather forecast suggests mixed conditions, adding another layer of unpredictability to the final showdown:

• Ramos vs Ponziani — eight points separate the Klint teammates for third overall
• Neila will chase her first Jerez victory and second place bragging rights
• Herrera can celebrate her title in style with a strong finish

Don’t miss the final race of the 2026 WorldWCR season — lights out Sunday.