The Circuito Estoril is set to host a FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship showdown this weekend as Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) and Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) get ready to battle in what could be a pivotal weekend. Carrasco leads Herrera by just nine points heading into the Estoril Round and that means it’s match point for the #22, albeit unlikely due to the small gap between the pair.

THE TITLE FIGHT: advantage Carrasco… just

This season has been defined by four riders – Carrasco, Herrera, Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) and Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) – more often than not taking up the top four positions. Carrasco and Herrera have shared all eight wins between them, with the #6 taking five and Carrasco three, meaning they have a slight advantage over Sanchez in the standings. With this being the penultimate round, Carrasco can win the title this weekend if she outscores Herrera by 42 points and Sanchez by 15.

Discussing the Championship fight, 2018 WorldSSP300 Champion Carrasco said: “Honestly, I’m not thinking about the Championship. There are still four races to go, so there’s still a lot of points available. I think it’ll be really, really difficult to be Champion here at Estoril. I will try to focus on myself, be fast, win races if it’s possible because, until the last race, we won’t know who will win the Championship. I have to keep enjoying and do all I can to win races this weekend. It’ll be so good to keep the gap between Maria and me for the first race.”

CATCHING UP WITH HERRERA: the #6 talks Cremona crash and provides fitness update

The two Spaniards are often trading blows with one another in races as they fight for victory, switching positions countless times and ensuring the other can’t escape when the positions do change. That came to a head at Cremona in Race 2 when several riders were heading down from Turn 10 to 11, when Carrasco and Herrera were side-by-side and banging elbows, before a crash under braking at Turn 11 meant Sanchez hit Herrera and took the #6 out of the race.

With this being the first time Herrera has spoken at the circuit since the crash, she was asked for her view on it. Providing a fitness update, she said: “It was a big crash. I think I was lucky because I thought my neck was destroyed; I suffered a lot the day after the crash. I’m happy to be here to battle again for the Championship.”

She then spoke about the crash, saying: “I was a little bit angry with this situation because I know Ana is strong on the straights. If she can have more speed, she can go and then we battle at the braking point because it’s the only place I can battle with her. She overtook me and pushed me onto the green. I wasn’t happy so I pushed to the right because I was on the limit in the wrong part. Sara could come to us, and the situation was difficult for Sara, I think, but Ana has something to say at that point.”

THE ESTORIL EXPECTATION: four or five riders to fight at the front?

Carrasco went on to win the race and with it the Championship lead heading into Estoril, and she also spoke about what she expected from the Estoril weekend in terms of the fight at the front, believing the story would be similar compared to other races this season. She said: “We’ve seen the same races since Misano, so I expect the same. The weather can make it a different weekend if we have rain during Friday or Saturday, so let’s see how the weather is. I expect Maria to be fast, Sara and also Beatriz. I think it’ll be a group of four or five riders as always. I will try to achieve the results and try to keep following my line to win this Championship.”

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