Sanchez Grabs Pole for WorldWCR Season Finale at Jerez
Superpole Highlights:
Sara Sanchez of the 511 Terra&Vita Racing Team delivered a stellar performance in the Superpole session, claiming her first pole position of the season. The Spaniard edged out title contenders Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) and Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) to lead the grid for the season finale.
With the inaugural WorldWCR title on the line, championship leader Ana Carrasco pushed hard but finished second, missing out on pole by less than a tenth of a second. Despite this, Carrasco remains in prime position for the championship battle.
Maria Herrera looked set to claim pole in the final seconds of the session, but slower riders ahead of her prevented her from improving her time. Herrera qualified third but secured the 2024 Tissot Superpole Award, having earned three pole positions over six rounds this season.
Consistent top-five finishers Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) and Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) qualified on the second row for Saturday’s Race 1, along with Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1), who took sixth.
South African rider Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno), American Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team), and British wildcard Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) secured positions on the third row.
The session was briefly red-flagged ten minutes in due to a track incident involving Mallory Dobbs, who fortunately walked away unhurt. The red flag allowed a section of the track to be cleaned, and the action resumed soon after.
Earlier in the day, Spanish riders dominated the morning practice session, with Carrasco, Herrera, Sanchez, Neila, and Ruiz forming the top five.
With Carrasco, Herrera, and Sanchez all vying for the first-ever WorldWCR title, the final races promise high drama, especially since Jerez is the home track for the championship frontrunners.
Top 3 Qualifiers’ Reactions:
P1 | Sara Sanchez | 511 Terra&Vita Racing Team | 1’51.671
“It’s been a great day! We started strong this morning in practice, and I was pleased with third, especially given the tricky track conditions. During Superpole, when the red flag came out, I saw I was in fifth and thought, ‘Come on, you can do better!’ So I went back out, focused, and didn’t stop pushing. The changes we made between practice and qualifying paid off. Starting from pole for the first time, I’m ready to give it my all tomorrow and aim for the win. It would be amazing to end the season with another victory.”
P2 | Ana Carrasco | Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team | 1’51.718
“I’m pretty happy with today. I felt good right from the start and managed to put in consistent lap times on my own. There are still areas where I can improve, but I set a solid time before the red flag and was able to repeat it a few times afterward. I would’ve loved to take pole, but Sara was faster in the end. Overall, I’m confident for tomorrow. I’ll give it everything to win in front of the home crowd, enjoy the race, and see what’s left to do for Sunday.”
P3 | Maria Herrera | Klint Forward Factory Team | 1’52.033
“I hadn’t tested here before, so I initially struggled with rear grip, but I improved lap by lap. I think I could’ve taken pole if I hadn’t hit traffic at the end, but I’m happy to be on the front row. The races will be tough as usual, with a close fight among the group, but I’m feeling calm going into tomorrow. I’ll go over the data with my team to see where we can improve and hopefully have a strong race.”
Final Notes:
With all three top contenders starting from the front row, Saturday’s Race 1 will be critical in deciding the inaugural WorldWCR champion. With a home track advantage and everything to play for, the stage is set for an intense showdown at Jerez.
WorldWCR Provisional Tissot Superpole Results
1. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) 1’51.671s
2. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.047s
3. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) +0.362s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +0.663s
5. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +1.041s
6. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +1.241s
Official WorldWCR Press Release
