Ana Carrasco

Spain’s Ana Carrasco–Yamaha has a habit of breaking down gender barriers and this year she added the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship to her racing résumé following a season that saw her finish on the podium in every race. In 2013 Carrasco became the first female to score points in the FIM Moto 3™ World Championship and, four years later, followed this up when she became the first woman to win a round of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship. Contested over six rounds with Yamaha as the sole manufacturer, the series got under way in mid-June at Misano in Italy where Carrasco ran two-three to immediately establish her credentials as a title contender. With her compatriot Maria Herrera leading the championship through rounds in Great Britain and Portugal despite Carrasco claiming an arrow overall victories at both, the season’s turning pointc ame at round four at the Cremona Circuit in Italy where she backed up third in the opening race with victory in race two to take the lead. A one-two at Estoril in Portugal in mid-October extended her advantage and Carrasco then put the title out of reach at the final round on home ground in Spain.

PALMARES

FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Champion - 2024

FIM Supersport 300 World Champion – 2018

QUEEN ANA THE FIRST

Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki) was crowned as the 2018 FIM Supersport 300 World Champion following a historic final race of the season at Magny-Cours, where she became the first ever female to secure a solo FIM Circuit Racing world title by a single point.

Carrasco's path to gold medal glory started in the CEV 125cc Spanish Championship, where a number of impressive performances secured a seat in the Moto3 World Championship for 2013. She became the first woman to score points in Moto3 at Sepang and repeated the feat with a season-best finish of eighth in Valencia.

Ana struggled to build on her early success but her career was rejuvenated by a move to the all-new FIM Supersport 300 World Championship in 2017. With new bikes and a level playing field, Carrasco was a consistent points finisher before making more history as the first female ever to win an FIM Circuit Racing solo race at Portimao.

A championship challenge beckoned in 2018, especially after a dominant victory at the third round at Imola, where she won by eleven seconds to lead the standings by three points. Another resounding win followed at Donington Park, which extended her lead to 22 points, and despite a dip in form at the next three rounds, she continued to pick up vital points to keep herself clear by ten going into a tense finale at Magny-Cours.

After qualifying in 25th place, Carrasco mounted a valiant charge into the points positions but with Mika Perez (Kawasaki) leading on the final lap and primed for the victory he needed to snatch the title for himself, it seemed certain her efforts would be in vain. However, a dramatic late twist saw Dani Valle (Yamaha) overtake Perez in the final corner, denying him of five crucial points and handing the championship back to Carrasco, who crossed the line in thirteenth.

PALMARES

World title – 2018