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Ana Carrasco's 2025 begins in Portugal and Supersport. After winning the Supersport 300 title in 2018 and beating Maria Herrera in the World WCR in 2024, the Spaniard will now try to showcase herself in the world championship, for the first time on a Honda CBR 600 RR and no longer on the Kawasaki she by now knew like the back of her hand. What will not change is the ballast on her bike to reach the minimum weight requirement
"I am used to it," she said resignedly, "This is a very complex category and for me it will be more so because I am not yet familiar with the bike and I will have to change my riding style having always raced with small bikes that require another approach. Only when it becomes natural to me can I think about being competitive."
Her goal is as clear as her cautious attitude: "First I will have to learn. I don't know what level I will be at. My teammate Corentin Perolari is experienced and fast, so I will try to get close to his performance."
She was not lacking a thought about the Women's Championship she won last year. "I decided to leave it because I won it. Having said that, its emergence has been very important for women in that it increases the chances that they can move on to MotoGP. In my opinion it is like a stepping stone. When I announced my participation I was immediately put down as the favorite, but it was not such a surefire thing. Everything was new and even the opponents, except for a few, I did not know them," she confided.
Despite several incidents in 2023 that threatened to bring an end to her career, the rider from Murcia never gave up thanks to the example of a distinguished fellow rider, now back to dominance. "The recovery has been slow. After so many fractures you see things differently. In this I feel similar to Marquez. He also suffered a lot. Others would have quit, but we kept going. For me to come back, win races and the championship was incredible. When it would be easier to retire, persisting and working has even more value, as does getting to the front. Marc continues to race because he wants to, not because he needs to having already eight titles in his pocket. He is a reference for me and not because of the goals, but because of perseverance and never wanting to give up. Like him, I too have not thrown in the towel," she maintained.
Staying on the subject of MotoGP, the 28-year-old has no doubt who will prevail at the end of the season. "I think one of the Marquez brothers, although Bagnaia will wake back up again and Martin will go strong right away on his return. In SBK, on the other hand, it will be a head-to-head between Razgatlioglu and Bulega," she concluded.
