PREVIEW: WorldWCR comes home to where it all began – Cremona, the next chapter in 2024 title race
History was made when Cremona welcomed the first-ever WorldWCR test session in May but now, they’ll be going out to show their worth for real as the fourth round awaits
It’s back to where it all started in May; the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship enjoyed their first test at the Cremona Circuit in northern Italy and were in fact some of the first riders to hit the brand-new venue out of the entire WorldSBK paddock. Now, we head back to start the second half of 2024 and the title race is very much on; 7 points between arch rivals Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) and Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros. Racing Yamaha Team) mean it’s all to play for at Round 4.
FIGHT AT THE FRONT: 7 points split Herrera and Carrasco
Four wins from six races and missing the podium just once, Herrera has been in fine fettle but hasn’t always been the strongest in a straight line, evidented in the last race at Portimao when Carrasco mugged her on the run to the line. Carrasco may have taken podiums in every race but she’s only enjoyed two wins, although one of them was last time out. In Race 2 at Portimao, Herrera was shuffled back to third as Sara Sanchez (Terra&Vita 511 Racing Team) came through too, meaning Carrasco’s seven point deficit heading into Portugal remained the same leaving. Now, Cremona awaits where all of the field – with the exception of Herrera – went testing four months ago. Could this be the right time for Carrasco to hit the front? Beatriz Neila (Ampito/Pata Prometeon Yamaha) hasn’t dropped out of the top five in the races so far and has a podium from Donington Park, placing her fourth, whilst home-hero Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldWCR Team) is fifth overall, keen for a first rostrum of 2024.
OUTSIDE THE TOP 5: Ruiz in good form, Yochay aims to fight back after Portimao struggles
Improving all the way through the season to take her first double top six and a best of P5 last time out, Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) sits sixth overall and will now seek to try and bridge the gap to the top four on track. She’s just six points back of Ponziani and eight ahead of Ran Yochay (Terra&Vita 511 Racing Team), with the Israeli rider struggling at Portimao but keen to put that behind her. With the exception of Ponziani, the remainder of the top seven riders have scored points in every race so far in 2024. Tayla Relph (TAYCO Motorsport) was taken out last time in Race 2 at Portimao and will be keen to make up for it this time at the track where she led the first-ever WorldWCR test session. She’s tied on points with Ornella Ongaro (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldWCR Team) with 29 each. With a fine double top ten last time out – giving her a best result of P7 in Race 2 – Mexico’s Astrid Madrigal (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA) completes the top ten.
MOUNTING TOP 10 CHALLENGES: Michel leads the charge, Van Aswegen seeking return
Just pushed out of the top ten overall last time out, Lucy Michel (TSL-Racing) was inside the leading positions back at the Cremona test in May, as was Chun Mei Liu (WT Racing Team Taiwan) who’s next up in P12. Adela Ourednickova (DafitMotoracing by Smrz) has achieved points in every race and was impressive in the test too, whilst Isis Carreno’s (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3) recovery continues away from the circuit. Following her crash at Portimao, Nicole van Aswegen’s (Andalaft Racing) recovery back home has been nothing short of remarkable and she’ll be hoping to get racing just over a month after her leg break. She’s 15th overall and achieved her first top ten of the year in P9 in Race 1 in Portugal. She’s just ahead of Lena Kemmer (Bertl K. Racing Team), who was strong in P7 during Superpole last time out. Emily Bondi (YART Zelos Black Knights Team) grabbed a first top ten last time out, whereas Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) secured her first points of the year. Likewise getting a first top ten in Race 2 at Portimao after a string of misfortune, American Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) is 20th in the order.
HOUSEKEEPING: riders to watch out for and wildcards at Cremona
After scoring her first points of the season, Andrea Sibaja (Deza – Box 77 Racing Team) is keen to repeat it. First round nerves are out of the way for Sara Varon (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA), with the Colombian rider now looking towards points at Cremona, a track she knows from testing. Alyssia Whitmore (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) is hoping to be declared fit as she bids to return to racing after missing Portimao through injury, whilst Iryna Nadieieva (MPS.RT) is unfit ahead of the round. There’ll be two wildcards too, with home-hero Irene Bramato (Team Roc'n'dea – De Angelis Team) on the grid alongside Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motor Sports), who returns to the paddock for the first time since her WorldSSP300 days.
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