Championship Standings
The stage is set for a nail-biting finale as Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) arrives at Jerez leading the Championship with 210 points, just six clear of her closest rival. The Spanish ace has been the benchmark all season long, claiming at least one victory at every round and showcasing her trademark blend of speed, control, and composure. Now, with the title within touching distance, Herrera will look to seal her long-awaited WorldWCR crownon home soil in front of the Spanish fans.
Breathing down her neck is Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) on 204 points. The 23-year-old Madrid-born rider comes into the finale on a high, after taking a superb Race 2 victory in France, closing the gap in the standings and reigniting her title hopes. With momentum on her side, Neila knows that one more strong weekend could turn the tide and deliver her maiden World Championship.
Behind the front-running duo, Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) holds third position, though her 136 points leave her 68 adrift of Neila. Still, she’ll be eager to finish the season with a flourish and protect her spot from the rapidly improving Chloe Jones (GR Motosport), who trails her by only three points. The British rider has been on a remarkable run since Balaton, recording four consecutive podium finishes and emerging as one of the breakout stars of 2025.
Rounding out the top five is Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) with 111 points. The Spaniard recently confirmed she will part ways with her current outfit at the end of the season, and she’ll be eager to finish her campaign on a positive note before embarking on a new chapter.
Just outside the top five, Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha) continues to impress in her debut year. The French rider, who celebrated her first home-race podium at Magny-Cours, sits sixth in the standings with 87 points, only 24 shy of Sanchez, and could yet break into the top five with another strong showing in Jerez.
Title Permutations
Maria Herrera can clinch the 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship this weekend if:
- She wins the race and Beatriz Neila finishes 10th or lower, or
- She finishes 2nd and Neila crosses the line 15th or lower.
The arithmetic is simple, but the racing won’t be. With just six points separating the pair, any mistake could swing the championship in the other direction.
Herrera vs Neila: By the Numbers
| Category | Maria Herrera | Beatriz Neila |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 5 | 4 |
| Podiums | 9 | 10 |
| Pole Positions | 2 | 2 |
| Points | 210 | 204 |
Herrera has led the standings for the majority of the season — all except for one fleeting moment after Race 2 at Assen, when Neila briefly took over the top spot. Though they were level on points, it served as a reminder that this year’s title fight has been one of the tightest and most compelling in recent memory.
Historical Performance
History will also weigh heavily on this weekend’s finale. Jerez played host to last year’s WorldWCR decider, a dramatic and emotional weekend for Maria Herrera. She won Race 1 in commanding style, but a crash in Race 2 cost her the inaugural championship, leaving her heartbroken but hungrier than ever. Returning 12 months later, she’ll be determined not to let lightning strike twice.
For Neila, Jerez has also been kind. She collected two podiums at the Spanish circuit in 2024, including a runner-up finish in the final race of the year — her best result of that season. Meanwhile, Sara Sanchez took an emotional home win in that same Race 2, while Roberta Ponziani finished both contests inside the top five, underlining her consistency.
It was also at Jerez that Chloe Jones made her WorldWCR debut, immediately making an impression with fifth place in Race 1 — a result that signaled the arrival of another serious contender.
Unfit for the Finale
Unfortunately, Emily Bondi (Zelos Trasimeno) will not take part in the Jerez round after sustaining an injury at her home race in France. Her absence will be felt, as the young French rider had shown flashes of real promise during her debut season.
The Final Showdown
As the sun sets on the 2025 season, all eyes will be on two women — Herrera and Neila — separated by six points, united by the same dream. One will leave Jerez as World Champion; the other, as the fiercest challenger of the year. Whatever the outcome, the finale promises to be a fitting climax to another unforgettable chapter in the rise of women’s motorcycle racing on the world stage.
Official WorldWCR
