Maria Herrera became the first rider to win back‑to‑back FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship titles. She needed only six points in Race 1 at Jerez on 17 October 2026, and she took them with a measured ride to fifth place.
A managed ride from the front row
Herrera started from the front row on her Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha. The race ran over 11 laps with 26 riders on the grid and track temperatures at 25 degrees. She stayed with the leading group early, under pressure from Roberta Ponziani and Yvonne Cerpa, and chose to manage her pace.
She dropped back behind Natalia Rivera and Ponziani, then fought to the line against Cerpa and Chloe Jones. She crossed the line sixth and was promoted to fifth after a post‑race penalty for Cerpa. That was enough to seal the crown.
Out front, the race had its own drama. Polesitter Paola Ramos was handed double long‑lap penalties for a jump start, yet she recovered to hunt down Beatriz Neila. Ramos set a 1′50.998 with two laps to go and beat Neila to the line by 0.167 seconds.
Two titles, and a cause
Herrera is now the first double WorldWCR champion. She lost the inaugural 2024 title to Ana Carrasco, then beat Neila for both the 2025 and 2026 crowns. Her record in the series stands at 18 wins and 29 podiums from 35 races.
She left Klint Racing Team for Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha and opened with a win at Portimao. A collision with Neila at Donington Park, and a post‑race penalty that briefly made Neila believe she had won the title, pushed the fight all the way to Jerez. Before this final round, Herrera had finished on the podium in every race of the year.
“I knew I had the pace, but I feel the nerves in the second lap,” the 30‑year‑old told reporters. She said the group behind stayed close every lap, and she just wanted to finish. On her champion’s lap a breast cancer awareness banner was raised, and her dedication to those fighting the disease drew applause from the entire paddock.
