Jerez: Paola Ramos smashes Maria Herrera’s pole record

The 2026 WorldWCR has been on hiatus since Donington Park three months ago; the meeting at the Circuito de Jerez marks the season finale of the world championship, which comprises just six events. Since its inception, the women’s-only series has been held at the Andalusian circuit every year.

There have been changes to the field of entrants for various reasons, with two wildcard riders joining the starting grid.

In free practice on Friday morning, Paolo Ramos set the fastest lap in 1:52.306 mins. The 19-year-old made a spectacular debut last year, winning the second race as a guest starter and setting the lap record of 1:51.303 in the first race. She was even faster than Maria Herrera, who set the pole position record that same weekend with a time of 1:51.572.

The 25-minute Superpole session got underway at 1.30 pm in sunny conditions and at 24 degrees Celsius. Ramos set the first notable lap time of 1:52.067 – at that point, Herrera hadn’t even completed her warm-up lap. On her second lap, the teenager set a new record of 1:51.261. Herrera was 2.2 seconds slower on her first flying lap. Roberta Ponziani and Pakita Ruiz initially followed behind Ramos.

Whilst Ramos improved further to 1:50.911 after ten minutes, and Ponziani also broke the 1:52 mark, Herrera came third with a time of 1:52.108. The Thai rider Muklada Sarapuech once again shone in fourth place. Lucy Michel was 14th, almost three seconds behind.

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At the halfway stage, all the riders made a pit stop. World Championship leader Herrera stared in disbelief at the timing screen and her deficit of 1.2 seconds. The World Championship runner-up, Beatriz Neila, was a full 1.5 seconds behind in fifth place.

With ten minutes left on the clock, the first riders headed back out onto the track – Herrera was in a particular hurry, whilst Ramos waited very calmly in the pits and only went out onto the track with two minutes remaining.

Whilst Neila surged into second place with a time of 1:51.677, Herrera initially failed to improve her time and remained in fourth position. But the world champion still had two laps to go and, finishing 0.6 seconds behind Ramos, secured second place on the grid. Neila completes the front row.

On the second row are Herrera’s team-mate Natalia Rivera, Ponziani and the Australian Tayla Relph. Sara Sanchez disappointed with 10th on the grid. Lucy Michel qualified in 15th place.