The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship heads to the venue where its first race took place, the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, in the midst of a fierce title fight between two of the Championship’s long-standing protagonists. The Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round hosts the action, and it’s set to be a huge, potentially pivotal, weekend of action in WorldWCR.
HERRERA VS NEILA IN THE TITLE BATTLE
Maria Herrera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR) holds the advantage over Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) in the title fight, but it’s a slender one, with just 14 points between them. Herrera did the double at Misano in 2024, while Neila didn’t stand on the podium in WorldWCR’s only visit to the Italian circuit. There has been little to separate the duo in 2026, and that is sure to continue at Misano.
IN THE LEAD GROUP
Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team) has been a stand-out performer ever since she joined the Championship at the end of last year, and her points tally doesn’t reflect her results – a double non-score at Assen as a result of a last-lap crash in Race 1 means she sits 45 points back from Herrera, but she has often been in the lead group. Ramos, who races with the #58 as a tribute to the late Marco Simoncelli, will race at Misano for the first time. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Racing Team) will go in search of home glory, and three of her four WorldWCR rostrums have come in Italy, but at Cremona. Muklada Sarapuech (EEST NJT Racing Team) has been a revelation as a one-event rider in 2026, and she’s in action at Misano, aiming for a first WorldWCR rostrum.
COMPLETING THE TOP TEN
Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR) also goes in search of a first WorldWCR podium after fighting in the top ten all season; the Spanish rider will need to make a step to be with the lead group, but her progress from the start of 2025 to now is evident. Chloe Jones (Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha) sits eighth and will look to return to the form from last year, where she mounted a title challenge, while Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) and Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) round out the top ten in the standings. Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha) currently sits ninth in the standings but she won’t race at Misano after sustaining fractures to her vertebrae while competing in the French Superbike championship; she’s replaced by Justine Pedemonte.
OTHER GRID CHANGES AT MISANO
Karolina Danak has a new team at Misano, racing under the Prata Motor Sport banner, which previously competed with Martina Guarino. Joy Bruno makes her debut in WorldWCR as a wildcard for Team Trasimeno, while Sara Sanchez (Hadden Racing Team) hopes to return to action. The Spanish rider missed out on racing at Balaton Park after she underwent surgery prior to the round but will hope she can race at Misano; a circuit she took two podiums at in 2024. She was declared fit on Thursday after a pre-round medical check.
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