Triumph on the Last Lap as Beatriz Neila and Ampito Crescent Yamaha Win WorldWCR Race 2 at the Cathedral of Speed

The 2026 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship title fight began to heat up as Beatriz Neila won her first race of the season to top off a super-strong weekend at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands.

Neila closed the gap to closest rival Maria Herrera across the three-day event, starting with a closely-contested Superpole qualifying on Friday afternoon that saw the #36 Ampito Crescent Yamaha take P2 less than three-tenths from pole.

Saturday’s Race 1 restart saw the leading two riders set a frenetic pace ahead of the chasing pack across 8 Laps, where Neila set the Fastest Lap on Lap 7 to close in and made a pass on Herrera in the final lap for the win at Turn 15, but the early move meant she was overtaken again into the final chicane to finish P2.

The final Race 2 on Sunday was a different story, Neila started from pole position and followed Herrera closely for the first part of the race before spots of rain started to fall at the halfway point. The pair swapped positions for the lead, but as the track conditions improved Neila waited until the last moment to make the crucial final pass on Lap 12. After setting the Fastest Lap once again on the penultimate lap, Neila stayed close to her rival to take the inside line into the chicane and stamp her mark on the Assen win at the chequered flag.

Just 13 points separate Neila and Ampito Crescent Yamaha from the top of the series championship points tally, with Round 3 up next at Balaton Park in Hungary, from 1-3 May.

Beatriz Neila, Ampito Crescent Yamaha – Superpole: P2 / Race 1: P2 / Race 2: P1

“Race 1 was fantastic, I really enjoyed it and feel like I’ve taken a step with respect to the first round in Portimão. I didn’t give up and know I did my best! It was a little bit difficult on Sunday for Race 2 as it started to rain mid-race. I feel like I have the flow and am more confident and relaxed in my riding. When it started to rain, I thought maybe I should be a bit more careful but, in the end, I went for the win. I studied Maria to see where I could pass, but she kept closing the door through the final corner. I waited patiently for my moment and was able to get it done right at the very end. I had no clue if I could make it stick and if I’d finish first or second! I’m very happy with the result, it means a lot to me and this win goes to all my supporters, my family and my Ampito Crescent Yamaha team.”