In the second race of the Women’s World Championship held in Cremona, Maria Herrera and Sara Sanchez experienced a severe crash on the final lap, which also affected German rider Lucy Michel.
Maria Herrera, Ana Carrasco, Roberta Ponziani, and Sara Sanchez were contending for podium positions in Sunday’s Women’s World Championship race, but a collision occurred on the last lap. Sanchez braked too late at the end of the nearly one-kilometer-long back straight, colliding with leader Herrera. Both riders ended up in the gravel, allowing Carrasco to secure the win, followed by Ponziani and Australian Tyla Relph.
After finishing 17th in the first race, Lucy Michel improved her position to 10th, but the crashes temporarily placed her in eighth. In the final corners, she was overtaken by two competitors while a yellow flag was displayed, according to Lucy’s account.
This overtaking under yellow flag conditions is prohibited by regulations, and team principal Stefan Laux submitted a protest. However, the FIM Stewards Panel rejected the protest after reviewing the video footage, concluding that none of the competitors passed Michel while the yellow flag was displayed.
“They passed me right in the yellow flag corner,” Michel told SPEEDWEEK.com during an interview. “They overtook me using the slipstream, and I couldn’t retaliate because of the yellow flags.”
Michel remained in 10th place overall and is ranked 12th in the championship standings with 30 points. “It’s frustrating that they didn’t receive any penalties,” she remarked.
Regarding her 17th-place finish on Saturday, she explained, “We had the wrong chassis, I was boxed in at the start and couldn’t get past all the riders.” Lucy added, “We changed the chassis for Sunday, and my lap times improved immediately. My start was also better, allowing me to perform better in the race.”
| Pos | Driver | Motorcycle | Diff |
| 1. | Ana Carrasco (E) | Yamaha | |
| 2. | Roberta Ponziani (I) | Yamaha | + 0.195 sec |
| 3. | Tayla Relph (AUS) | Yamaha | + 13.676 |
| 4. | Beatriz Neila Santos (E) | Yamaha | + 13.858 |
| 5. | Avalon Lewis (NZ) | Yamaha | + 14.358 |
| 6. | Francisca Ruiz Vidal (E) | Yamaha | + 22.431 |
| 7. | Astrid Madrigal (MEX) | Yamaha | + 25.144 |
| 8. | Emily Bondi (F) | Yamaha | + 40.083 |
| 9. | Ornella Ongaro (F) | Yamaha | + 40.445 |
| 10. | Lucy Michel (D) | Yamaha | + 40.586 |
| 11. | Adela Ourednickova (CZ) | Yamaha | + 46.825 |
| 12. | Chun Mei Liu (RC) | Yamaha | + 47.105 |
| 13. | Ran Yochay (IL) | Yamaha | + 47.624 |
| 14. | Andrea Sibaja (E) | Yamaha | + 52.328 |
| 15. | Lena Kemmer (A) | Yamaha | + 52.523 |
| 16. | Irene Bramato (I) | Yamaha | + 52.862 |
| – | Maria Herrera (E) | Yamaha | |
| – | Sara Sanchez (E) | Yamaha | |
| – | Luna Hirano (J) | Yamaha | |
| – | Jessica Howden (ZA) | Yamaha | |
| – | Sara Varon (COL) | Yamaha | |
| – | Mallory Dobbs (USA) | Yamaha | |
| Pos | Driver | Motorcycle | Diff |
| 1. | Maria Herrera (E) | Yamaha | |
| 2. | Sara Sanchez (E) | Yamaha | + 0.075 sec |
| 3. | Ana Carrasco (E) | Yamaha | + 0.197 |
| 4. | Roberta Ponziani (I) | Yamaha | + 5.113 |
| 5. | Beatriz Neila Santos (E) | Yamaha | + 5.382 |
| 6. | Francisca Ruiz Vidal (E) | Yamaha | + 6.418 |
| 7. | Tayla Relph (AUS) | Yamaha | + 7.003 |
| 8. | Avalon Lewis (NZ) | Yamaha | + 7.243 |
| 9. | Astrid Madrigal (MEX) | Yamaha | + 9.861 |
| 10. | Mallory Dobbs (USA) | Yamaha | + 10.249 |
| 11. | Emily Bondi (F) | Yamaha | + 15.837 |
| 12. | Ornella Ongaro (F) | Yamaha | + 16.175 |
| 13. | Chun Mei Liu (RC) | Yamaha | + 16.773 |
| 14. | Luna Hirano (J) | Yamaha | + 17.082 |
| 15. | Adela Ourednickova (CZ) | Yamaha | + 17.252 |
| 16. | Ran Yochay (IL) | Yamaha | + 17.550 |
| 17. | Lucy Michel (D) | Yamaha | + 18.063 |
| 18. | Irene Bramato (I) | Yamaha | + 20.333 |
| 19. | Jessica Howden (ZA) | Yamaha | + 20.422 |
| 20. | Andrea Sibaja (E) | Yamaha | + 20.745 |
| Pos | Driver | Motorcycle | Points |
| 1. | Ana Carrasco (E) | Yamaha | 163 |
| 2. | Maria Herrera (E) | Yamaha | 154 |
| 3. | Sara Sanchez (E) | Yamaha | 128 |
| 4. | Beatriz Neila Santos (E) | Yamaha | 107 |
| 5. | Roberta Ponziani (I) | Yamaha | 89 |
| 6. | Francisca Ruiz Vidal (E) | Yamaha | 70 |
| 7. | Tayla Relph (AUS) | Yamaha | 54 |
| 8. | Ran Yochay (IL) | Yamaha | 45 |
| 9. | Astrid Madrigal (MEX) | Yamaha | 41 |
| 10. | Ornella Ongaro (F) | Yamaha | 40 |
| 11. | Chun Mei Liu (RC) | Yamaha | 31 |
| 12. | Lucy Michel (D) | Yamaha | 30 |
| 13. | Adela Ourednickova (CZ) | Yamaha | 27 |
| 14. | Emily Bondi (F) | Yamaha | 25 |
| 15. | Isis Carreno Avila (RCH) | Yamaha | 20 |
| 16. | Avalon Lewis (NZ) | Yamaha | 19 |
| 17. | Nicole Van Aswegen (ZA) | Yamaha | 17 |
| 18. | Lena Kemmer (A) | Yamaha | 16 |
| 19. | Mallory Dobbs (USA) | Yamaha | 14 |
| 20. | Luna Hirano (J) | Yamaha | 13 |
| 21. | Jessica Howden (ZA) | Yamaha | 9 |
| 22. | Andrea Sibaja (E) | Yamaha | 7 |
| 23. | Krystal Silfa (DOM) | Yamaha | 1 |
Cremona Women’s World Championship Race 2: Thrills, Spills, and Controversies
Race Overview
The second race of the Women’s World Championship held in Cremona delivered a blend of excitement, drama, and unexpected outcomes. With Maria Herrera, Ana Carrasco, Roberta Ponziani, and Sara Sanchez in fierce competition for podium finishes, the stage was set for an intense showdown.
Key Highlights from Race 2
- Crashes During the Last Lap: The race took a dramatic turn when Maria Herrera and Sara Sanchez collided on the final lap, disrupting their momentum and leading to a heavy fall.
- Victory for Ana Carrasco: Despite the chaos, Ana Carrasco managed to seize the lead and claim victory, finishing ahead of Roberta Ponziani and Tayla Relph.
- Lucy Michel’s Performance: After a disappointing 17th place finish in the first run, Lucy Michel made a significant improvement, finishing 10th in the second race amid ongoing controversy regarding penalties.
Details of the Crash Incident
As the leaders approached the end of the almost one-kilometer-long back straight, Sara Sanchez braked too late, colliding directly with the leader, Maria Herrera. This incident left both riders stranded in the gravel, ultimately ending their chances for a podium finish and shaking up the race dynamics significantly.
Lucy Michel’s Race Experience
Emerging from the incident, Lucy Michel initially secured what seemed to be a promising eighth place towards the end of the race. However, she was subsequently overtaken by two riders in the final corners, raising questions about legality due to the presence of yellow flags.
Protest and Controversy
- Following the race, team boss Stefan Laux filed a protest citing that the two riders had passed Michel under yellow flag conditions.
- Upon review, the FIM Stewards Panel rejected the protest, asserting that no illegal overtakes had occurred during the yellow flag situation.
- Michel expressed her frustration, believing the situation warranted penalties for the opposing riders who overtook her.
Results of Race 2
| Position | Driver | Motorcycle | Time/Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ana Carrasco | Yamaha | – |
| 2. | Roberta Ponziani | Yamaha | +0.195 sec |
| 3. | Tayla Relph | Yamaha | +13.676 sec |
| 10. | Lucy Michel | Yamaha | +40.586 sec |
| – | Maria Herrera | Yamaha | – |
| – | Sara Sanchez | Yamaha | – |
Lucy Michel’s Journey: Overcoming Challenges
Reflecting on her performance, Lucy Michel attributed her earlier struggles in Saturday’s race, where she finished 17th, to technical difficulties and a poorly suited chassis. Her adjustments on Sunday led to a significant improvement in both her starting position and race time, showcasing her resilience and adaptability on the track.
The Importance of Equipment
- Switching to the correct chassis greatly impacted Michel’s performance. Improved handling allowed her to navigate the track more effectively and mitigate earlier interference during the starting sequence.
- Michel’s ongoing development demonstrates the critical role of equipment choices in racing outcomes, reinforcing the need for teams to ensure optimal setups for their riders.
Current Standings: Women’s World Championship 2024
After eight races of the Women’s World Championship, the standings depict a competitive field. Ana Carrasco leads, followed closely by Maria Herrera and Sara Sanchez.
| Position | Driver | Motorcycle | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ana Carrasco | Yamaha | 163 |
| 2. | Maria Herrera | Yamaha | 154 |
| 3. | Sara Sanchez | Yamaha | 128 |
| 12. | Lucy Michel | Yamaha | 30 |
Conclusion
While the thrilling aspect of racing often lies in its unpredictability, the second race of the Women’s World Championship in Cremona showcased both the glory of triumph and the agony of defeat. With fierce competitors and dramatic incidents, this race will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the ongoing championship battle.