MARIA HERRERA Dominates Race 2 as BEATRIZ NEILA’s Last-Lap Attack Falls Short

May 4, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

MARIA HERRERA delivered when it counted, converting Saturday’s near-miss into Sunday’s commanding victory at Cremona. The championship leader controlled Race 2 from start to finish, but had to earn it in the final sector when BEATRIZ NEILA made a desperate last-gasp charge that fell just short. Herrera’s strategic adjustment paid off perfectly – she felt comfortable enough to push when needed while staying calm enough to handle the pressure when Neila appeared in her mirrors with victory on the line.
The real drama came when Neila’s ambitious overtake attempt opened the door for ROBERTA PONZIANI to capitalize on her teammate’s misfortune. Ponziani, who’d been lurking within striking distance all race, pounced when Neila ran wide and snatched second place from the Spaniard. It was the kind of opportunistic racing that wins championships – Ponziani and Herrera both banked maximum points (45 each) for Klint Forward Racing, giving the team serious momentum heading into round three.
Further back, SARA SANCHEZ proved she belongs in this conversation by catching the leading trio at mid-race distance, though she couldn’t quite match their final pace to finish fourth. ASTRID MADRIGAL continues building her championship campaign with another solid sixth-place finish and 10 more points, while CHLOE JONES showed serious racecraft by climbing from twelfth to eighth. The championship standings now show Herrera with a 13-point cushion over Neila, with Ponziani just eight points behind in third – this title fight is far from settled.