The first pole in the history of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship was claimed by Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) as the Spaniard beat her rivals in a hotly-contested Tissot Superpole session. Herrera will lead away the Race 1 grid on Saturday (11:50 Local Time, UTC+2) at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” after fending off her rivals during the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round.

HERRERA LEADS CARRASCO, PONZIANI PROMOTED: Sanchez demoted from P2

As in this morning’s Free Practice session, the times kept improving as the session progressed. Herrera was able to set a 1’49.390s to claim the first ever WorldWCR pole but it was fine margins, with just 0.051s between the #6 and Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) in second. Sanchez, who topped the FP session, set a 1’49.441s, to claim second ahead of Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) in third. Just 0.124s separated the top three in a closely fought Superpole session. However, towards the end of the session, it was announced that Sanchez was under investigation for slow riding, with Sanchez penalised with a three-place grid drop for Race 1.

HOME HERO IMPRESSES: Ponziani leads the second row

Italian star Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) will line up from third following Sanchez’s sanction after fighting for pole position, finishing less than two tenths away from Herrera’s pole-setting time. South Africa’s Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) claimed fifth in the timings ahead of Chile’s Isis Carreno (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3), with Carreno starting sixth and being unaffected by Sanchez’s penalty.

A STRONG GRID PLACING FOR RACE 1: completing the top ten

Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) set a 1’40.437s as she claimed seventh place, finishing ahead of Ornella Ongaro (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) in eighth after the French rider set a 1’51.153s. Germany’s Lucy Michel (TSL-Racing) was ninth with Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) completing the top ten. Chun Mei Liu (WT Racing Team Taiwan) narrowly missed out on a top-ten spot, finishing just a tenth behind Ruiz. 

The top six from WorldWCR Tissot Superpole, full results here:

1. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) 1’49.390s

2. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) +0.051s*

3. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.124s

4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +0.183s

5. Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) +0.725s

6. Isis Carreno (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3) +0.726s

*Sanchez will start from P5 on the Race 1 grid

Watch the inaugural WorldWCR race on Saturday at 11:50 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!