Maria Herrera wants to bring the women’s world championship to MotoGP

“I want to bring the women’s world championship to MotoGP,” Maria Herrera said. In an interview with MARCA, the two-time world champion set out that ambition and discussed the championship’s development and the visibility it could gain.

Herrera has come through a demanding season in which she raced while injured. She remained on the podium until the penultimate race, the title-deciding one, amid a tense battle with Beatriz Neila and Paola Ramos. At Jerez, she celebrated her title with her family. “To achieve it at Jerez, with my whole family, was incredible,” she said. Herrera recalled feeling nervous from Friday and knowing that a top-10 finish on Saturday would be enough. She had considered taking a risk, but decided to finish the race instead: “I was nervous, I wasn’t riding smoothly, and I told myself: ‘I’m going to finish.’”

She described the championship as entertaining to follow and said people enjoy it, including those in MotoGP. In her view, it can draw more young women, as their numbers are growing and they want to compete in the women’s world championship. “I couldn’t imagine seeing a full grid before; now that has changed,” she said. Herrera has always favoured going where the best are, pointing to MotoGP, but believes the women’s championship has achieved strong visibility and should keep moving forward.

The championship’s continuity is another motivation for her. Its new era will involve CFMoto and Michelin, a brand she says she has worked with for many years. She is also excited by the possibility of bringing one of its races to MotoGP. Herrera says the action is on track: the bike is fun and becoming more competitive. She would like to see races at Jerez and Aragón. She also noted that five Spanish riders are currently near the top and are battling one another closely.

The interview also turned to the end of the MotoGP championship. Herrera said she admired Martín, whom she described as having suffered numerous injuries, and Márquez, who keeps fighting despite a shoulder that, in her view, is not fit for that contest. She hopes Marc wins his tenth title, while also saying Martín deserves it and has more of his career ahead of him.