Maria Herrera

María Herrera is a Spanish motorcycle racer who made history as the first woman to win a race in the FIM CEV Repsol series and became the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship winner in 2025.

EARLY YEARS

Born on August 26, 1996, in Oropesa, Toledo, Spain, María Herrera Muñoz developed a love for motorcycles before she could even tie her own shoes. She started riding a minibike at age four—because apparently some girls are just born ready to go fast. Growing up in Oropesa with what sources describe as “a deep love for motorcycles and unquenchable thirst for competition,” she transitioned from playing on two wheels to racing on them, competing in Spanish junior and national championships before her career really kicked into gear in 2013.

Details about her family, educational background, and what sparked that initial obsession with speed remain elusive—Herrera’s early story is less about origin myths and more about what she did once she got on track. And what she did was win.

OTHER INTERESTS

Here’s where things get mysteriously quiet. María Herrera’s life outside the paddock remains largely unknown—no public hobbies, no side hustles, no carefully curated Instagram posts about her love of painting or rock climbing. Whether she’s fiercely private or just laser-focused on racing, the record doesn’t say. What we do know is that motorcycles have consumed her life since she was practically a toddler, so perhaps there simply isn’t room for much else.

EARLY SUCCESS

Herrera’s breakthrough came in 2013 when she competed in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 series with Junior Team Estrella Galicia 0,0. That season, she became the first woman to win a race in the FIM CEV Repsol series—not once, but twice. She took the checkered flag at Motorland Aragón and again at Circuito de Navarra, leading the championship heading into the final round at Jerez. A retirement in that last race cost her the title, and she finished fourth overall, just 13 points behind champion Fabio Quartararo. Yes, that Fabio Quartararo.

Her CEV success earned her wildcard entries into the Moto3 World Championship in 2013 and 2014, including a historic appearance at the Aragón Grand Prix in 2013—the first time a woman competed in a Moto3 GP. By 2015, with backing from Repsol, she moved to full-time Grand Prix racing with Husqvarna Factory Laglisse. Her best result that season was 11th at Phillip Island, and she scored nine championship points—a solid showing for a rookie in one of the most competitive series in the world.

But 2016 and 2017 brought the kind of headaches that test a racer’s resolve. She joined AGR Team, but bad luck plagued her 2016 campaign. Then her team withdrew, forcing her to become an owner-rider just to keep competing. When the team folded entirely in 2017, she had to step up again. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes chaos that would make most people quit. Herrera didn’t.

In 2018, she shifted gears—literally—and competed in the WorldSSP300 championship. She finished fourth in one race, scored several top-ten finishes, and ended the season 13th overall with 45 points. It wasn’t a championship run, but it proved she could adapt to different machinery and still be competitive.

Then came MotoE. From 2019 to 2023, Herrera raced for Ángel Nieto Team (later Openbank Ángel Nieto Team), becoming the only woman on the electric bike grid. Her best result was fifth at Misano in 2019. Over those five seasons, she racked up 60 MotoE races—experience that made her one of the most seasoned riders in any category, male or female. In 2024, she switched to Klint Forward Factory Team, finishing 16th in the standings but notching a top-ten finish along the way.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2013: First woman to win a race in the FIM CEV Repsol series with victories at Motorland Aragón and Circuito de Navarra; finished fourth overall in the championship.
• 2013: Made history as the first woman to compete in a Moto3 Grand Prix with a wildcard entry at Aragón.
• 2015: Scored nine points in the Moto3 World Championship with Husqvarna Factory Laglisse, with a best finish of 11th at Phillip Island.
• 2018: Finished 13th overall in the WorldSSP300 championship with 45 points and a best result of fourth place.
• 2019: Achieved best MotoE result of fifth place at Misano with Ángel Nieto Team.
• 2022: Competed in the first all-female team wildcard entry in Moto3 at the Aragón Grand Prix with Angeluss MTA Racing.
• 2024: Completed her sixth MotoE season, finishing 16th in the standings with a top-ten finish.
• 2025: Won the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship with a double victory at the final round at Circuito de Jerez, becoming the series’ first-ever champion.

Over her career, Herrera has competed in 54 Moto3 Grands Prix and 60 MotoE races, making her the most experienced elite female rider in grand prix motorcycle racing.

INSPIRATIONS

Who inspired María Herrera to race? What posters hung on her childhood bedroom wall? Which rider made her think, “I want to do that”? We don’t know. She hasn’t said—or at least, it hasn’t been documented. What’s clear is that her inspiration comes less from looking up to heroes and more from looking forward, clearing the path for the women coming behind her.

REPUTATION

Herrera is widely regarded as one of the most experienced and talented riders in women’s motorcycle racing—a trailblazer who didn’t just break barriers but stayed in the fight long enough to become a fixture. She’s competed alongside riders like Isaac Viñales and Nico Terol, held her own in male-dominated grids, and earned respect for her consistency and resilience. Media coverage has consistently highlighted her pioneering status and her rapid rise in the inaugural WorldWCR season.

But her reputation isn’t just about what she’s done on track. Herrera has been vocal about supporting other women in racing, saying, “It’s a pleasure for me to help other girls, it’s special to share my experience.” She’s made it clear that her goal isn’t just personal success—it’s about making the road smoother for the next generation. “I want to clear the path for them,” she’s said, and given her history of surviving team collapses and fighting through setbacks, she knows exactly how rocky that path can be.

After years of instability—team withdrawals, funding issues, having to become an owner-rider just to keep racing—she now values a stable team environment. That hard-won wisdom is part of what makes her a leader, even if she doesn’t shout about it.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

With the 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship title secured, Herrera has officially achieved her stated goal of becoming the series’ first-ever champion. She’s also continuing in MotoE with Klint Forward Factory Team, entering her sixth season in the electric series and aiming to take the next step in performance. Whether that means podiums, wins, or a title run remains to be seen, but given her track record of persistence, it’s safe to say she’s not done making history yet.

References:

[1] Wikipedia – María Herrera
[2] FIM-Moto – María Herrera Career Summary
[3] MotoGP.com – Rider Profile
[4] Dive-Bomb – Early Career Details
[5] WorldSBK – María Herrera Profile
[6] Paddock Sorority – Interview and Advocacy
[7] Green Racing News – Early Start
[8] Formula E Fandom – Basic Biography