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Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team riders Roberta Ponziani and Ornella Ongaro made an exciting visit to the Mugello Circuit for the Italian Grand Prix this past weekend. With less than two weeks before their debut in the FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship, the duo took the opportunity to immerse themselves in the MotoGP™ atmosphere and connect with the racing community.

French rider Ornella Ongaro expressed her enthusiasm about the visit, and said: "It was fantastic to hang out at Mugello with Roberta. We had the chance to catch up with a lot of people and see the bikes up close. It's always a bit surreal to be on 'the other side', but I was thrilled to say hello to Johann Zarco and reconnect with Marc Márquez, who I raced against back in the day. Chatting with him and his dad brought back some great memories. It's heartening to see the respect and interest in WorldWCR as we gear up for the Championship. We had some great discussions with riders about the R7 and our progress, and it's exciting to see the growing interest in WorldWCR."

Roberta Ponziani, the reigning Italian Women's Champion, shared her excitement as well, adding: "I had an amazing time. Attending a Grand Prix is always special, but Mugello has a unique charm. We had an incredible experience meeting various teams, observing their garage operations, and getting an inside look at the bikes and the mechanics' and riders' work. It was truly inspiring."

As the countdown to their first appearance in the FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship continues, Ponziani and Ongaro's visit to the MotoGP™ paddock has further fuelled their enthusiasm and determination. WorldWCR is poised to make a significant impact, and the support and interest from the MotoGP™ community are invaluable as the Championship approaches.

Marquez spoke at Mugello about his time racing against Ongaro, describing her as ‘super-fast’. He said: “She was competing, and she was at a super good level. We were competing with the 50cc street bikes, and most of the races, I won the race, and she finished second. She was super-fast.”

It was similar for Zarco, who also spoke about Ornella at the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona, saying: “I had been racing against her on the PW50 and then also the Conti in 50cc. We rode together from 10-12 years old; I shared the track with her."

Ponziani was spoken about by Marco Bezzecchi during the Catalan Grand Prix, with the #72 commenting: “I’ve known her for a while, she was racing with me in minibikes. I know her quite well. She’s a very good rider, we had some battles when we were younger. I think she’ll be fast. Roberta was very determined. It wasn’t easy for her because she had to fight a lot of people that were quick, but she defended herself well and fought hard. She never gave up. I admired her for this.”

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