{"id":6423,"date":"2026-05-02T18:55:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T16:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grtracingteam.com\/?p=6423"},"modified":"2026-05-02T19:07:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T17:07:12","slug":"worldwcr-terraevita-grt-balaton-d2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grtracingteam.com\/en\/worldwcr-terraevita-grt-balaton-d2\/","title":{"rendered":"Maria Herrera wins an outstanding Race 1 at Balaton Park for Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maria Herrera claimed her third victory of the season with an impressive performance in Race 1 at Balaton Park, Hungary, further extending her lead in the championship. It was also a strong showing from Natalia Rivera, who finished seventh after battling within the top five until the closing stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the morning Warm-Up session, where Rivera set the eighth-fastest time, both Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha riders approached Race 1 with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The race was shortened to nine laps following an early red flag. Starting from fourth on the grid after a three-place penalty in Superpole, Herrera made a strong launch and moved into the lead within a few laps. She then controlled the race pace and built a gap in the closing stages, securing victory at the chequered flag and extending her championship lead to 18 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rivera also delivered a solid performance, starting from ninth on the grid. The young Spaniard made an excellent start, quickly joining the fight for the top five and remaining competitive throughout the race. After climbing to fifth with two laps to go, she continued battling and ultimately crossed the line in seventh place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both riders will return to action tomorrow for Race 2 at 13:00 local time. Herrera will start from fourth on the grid, while Rivera will line up in seventh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria Herrera \u2013 P1
<\/strong>\u201cWhat a day and what a race! Managing the restarts wasn\u2019t easy, so we had to stay fully focused, especially at the start in the middle of the pack. I\u2019m happy I was able to take the lead early and find my rhythm quickly. I tried to create a gap towards the end, and although I expected a final-lap battle, the margin was enough to secure the win. I\u2019m really happy, but we must stay focused because the job isn\u2019t finished yet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalia Rivera \u2013 P7
<\/strong>\u201cIt was a good race overall. We improved our lap times, stayed competitive in the group, and made some strong moves. It\u2019s a step forward, but we know there\u2019s still more potential to unlock. We\u2019ll keep working hard to be closer to the front tomorrow. Starting a couple of positions higher should help us stay with the leading group from the beginning, which is our goal.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n