After scoring seven podiums in nine races, Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) achieved her first WorldWCR race win today, just snatching victory from championship leader Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) across the line in a WorldWCR race 2 that didn’t disappoint.
Determined to recoup valuable championship points, Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) moved straight into the lead when the race began, with polesitter Sara Sanchez hot on her heels. With the pair soon joined by Carrasco and Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha), it was this quartet of riders who took turns out front, exchanging places through almost every corner of this 12-lap showdown.
As Sanchez celebrated her maiden win, Carrasco and Herrera joined her on the rostrum, able to console themselves with another solid podium finish.
Having banked another 45 points this weekend, Ana is the Estoril round’s highest points scorer. Earning a tenth consecutive podium today, the Spaniard now holds an 18-point lead in the championship standings over Herrera, with one round left to run.
Third in Saturday’s Race 1, a tenacious Neila ran with the frontrunners from start to finish today, missing out on third by just 0.146 of a second to finish P4.
Also deserving of an honourable mention today are Italian Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team), who ran with the frontrunners early on before ably managing the second half of the race to secure P5, and Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) who ran a consistent albeit rather solitary race to conclude sixth.
American Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team), Mexican Astrid Madrigal (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA), Chilean Isis Carreno (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3) and Czech rider Adela Ourednickova (DaftMotoracing by Smrz) all boosted their respective points tallies by rounding out the top ten.
Lap 4 brought an unfortunate crash for Tayla Relph (Tayco Motorsport) while she was lying sixth and pushing to reach the frontrunners.
A difficult weekend for Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) ended prematurely after she crashed on lap 7.
Emily Bondi (YART Zelos Black Knights Team) served a long lap penalty in today’s race after receiving a sanction for irresponsible riding in Saturday’s Race 1. Chun Mei Liu (WT Racing Team Taiwan) was unfit to compete in Race 2 after a crash in Race 1.
With three riders still in with a shot at the championship title, the WorldWCR season finale will play out over the weekend of 18-20 October at the Jerez Circuit in Spain. With one round left to run, Carrasco (208 points) now holds an 18-point lead in the standings.
Herrera (190) and Sanchez (166) are the only riders still in with a mathematical chance of challenging Ana for the title at Jerez. Neila (136) and Ponziani (109) round out the top five.
