Relph set on Top 5 Finish in Estoril

While shorter than most World Championships, the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) has produced spectacular racing throughout the four of six rounds completed. Now, the WorldWCR Championship will face its penultimate round, with Circuito Estoril setting the scene!

PREVIOUS ROUND RECAP [CREMONA CIRCUIT, ITALY, ROUND 4]

Cremona is now a circuit that Tayla Relph will remember forever, as she became the first Australian female to stand on a World Championship podium in circuit racing just a few weeks ago.

The WorldWCR Race 2 at Cremona Circuit set the historic scene for Relph, where she fought her way back from 10th on the opening lap to 5th place by lap 8.

Relph was able to hold 5th place in a fierce battle between Spanish rider Beatriz Neila and New Zealand’s Avalon Lewis, eventually crossing the line in 3rd after title Spanish rivals Sara Sanchez took out Maria Herrera in a last-lap move that ended with both riders in the gravel trap.

Race 2 also marked the first time in WorldWCR that non-Spanish riders stood on the podium, with the Australian and Italian flags waving proudly for both Relph and Roberta Ponziani who finished in 2nd.  

Relph is no stranger to making history at Cremona Circuit in WorldWCR - the same place where the 27-year-old topped the first-ever official test session for the World Championship in May.

EYES FORWARD TO ESTORIL, PORTUGAL [ROUND 5]

As the inaugural WorldWCR Championship finds itself nearing to a close, stakes are getting increasingly higher for many riders on the grid with everyone’s focus switching to their World Championship standings.

Relph has made a solid progression up the World Championship ladder throughout the four rounds. Having left the first round at Misano in 15th, the Victorian has put in the hard yards to climb her way up to 7th position in the World Championship standings as she heads into the penultimate round in Estoril.

“We’ve jumped up 8 spots in the World Championship standings since Round 1 - No other rider in WCR has made that kind of progression this season and I think that is a testament to my team and how much work Ted [Collins] and I have put in since Misano,” Relph said.

“In just 4 rounds to jump from 15th to 7th with a fighting chance to still finish the inaugural season inside the Top 6 is massive, and when you take into account our two DNFs [Did Not Finish] as well, that is something we need to be extremely proud of,”

“Progression has always been our main focus this season; for us, our focus has been on consistently closing the gap to the leaders which we have achieved. We never gave up, we kept fighting and working to get to where we are today, and we’re not done yet.”

Relph explained that although spirits were running high after her podium finish in Cremona, she can’t be complacent heading into Estoril.

“For sure the podium gives an added confidence boost heading into the next round, but you’re only as good as your last race so we need to keep working as hard as ever to stay inside the Top 5 fight,” Relph said.

“We have only completed one day of testing at Estoril whereas I know a lot of other girls have done multiple days here so I don’t think this round will come easy; but, I know the one day we did was a good one with competitive times, so I’m hoping we can keep the #8 at the pointy end this round!” she ended.