Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) was the standout performer at the Cremona Circuit during the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship test. Over two days, the #22 was the only rider to lap in the 1’41s bracket as she finished almost a second clear of her rivals, adapting to her new team, bike and re-adjusting to Pirelli tyres after several seasons in the Moto3™ paddock before their switch to the Italian brand.

The 2018 WorldSSP300 Champion’s best time was a 1’41.446s and it came in the final session, a 10-minute Warm Up session for everyone, on Day 2. She was seven tenths faster than Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) in second and another five tenths clear of Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) who completed the top three. It’s been a strong start for Carrasco on the Yamaha R7, and she reviewed her test, plus explained how important WorldWCR will be for women in motorsport.

The seven-time WorldSSP300 race winner said: “I’m really happy because we worked very well with the team. It was a new circuit for me, so we were working a lot in every corner, but I’m really happy like that. The level is quite high, so I expect a lot of battles from the first race. Yesterday was an important day for women in motorcycling. This Championship will be very important to help women grow in this world. I’m quite happy to be part of this Championship, I’ve been working and fighting a lot of years to have my place here, so it’s really important that Dorna created this Championship.”

The Murcia-born star competed in WorldSSP300 between 2017 and 2021, always on the Kawasaki Ninja 400 machine which she claimed the 2018 title on. However, Carrasco has also ridden World Supersport machinery and Moto3™ bikes and she was able to use her experience to adapt to the R7 machine that everyone will race this year. With the test in the bag and the Spaniard taking top spot, Carrasco also explained how she felt the 2024 season would play out.

She said: “There are some riders that were fast today, but I don’t know, we will see after the first race who is fighting for the victory. I expect something different, the level is quite high, so I think it will be a good Championship, it will be fun. I know I’m fast, and I know I have the experience to fight for the title, but you never know, you have to work every race, and always achieve good results, and at the end of the season, we will see who the favourite is. Misano is a track that I love, my last win in WorldSSP300 was there in 2021, so I’m looking forward to being back in Misano. There are always good races and good battles.”

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