The second season of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) kicks off at TT Circuit Assen on April 11. We continue with our WorldWCR Special Series of riders’ interviews. Today, we give you the the story of Portuguese rider Madalena Simões. Having been away from racing for three years, WorldWCR helps her find her way back to the circuit.
Photos © Madalena Simões
Motorsport courses through Madalena Simões’ veins like a second heartbeat. Growing up in a household where MotoGP weekends were sacred, her love for racing began as a childhood ritual. “Motorsport has always been in the background of my life. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t watching MotoGP every weekend with my family. It was just part of my life, something I naturally gravitated toward.”
That gravitational pull intensified when she discovered her uncle’s legacy in the sport. At the age of 17, Madalena finally got a taste of riding a bike, and her own journey as a rider began. “As I got older, I found out that my uncle used to race 125cc bikes in the 90s, competing in national and European championships. That changed everything. Knowing I had a direct connection to the sport made my passion for it even stronger. But it wasn’t until I turned 17 that I finally got on a racing bike myself. From that moment on, I was hooked.”
Growing up in Valentino Rossi’s prime years, Madalena found inspiration in the MotoGP Legend. His charisma and skill became a blueprint for her aspirations. “Valentino Rossi has been my racing idol for as long as I can remember. He was the one I looked up to, and the reason I fell in love with MotoGP in the first place. In my first year of competition in 2018, it was time to pick a race number. I wanted #46 for obvious reasons, but it was already taken. So, I went with #22 – the day I was born, December 22 – and also as a reference to Ana Carrasco, someone I’ve always looked up to. Funny enough, it feels like she passed it down to me, because now I get to use it for WorldWCR this year.”
Madalena’s career started in the brightest way possible, but soon, her resilience was tested. “My best memory is from my first race on a big track, when I raced Moto5 at the Portimão Circuit. I won that race by a big margin, and it’s a moment I’ll never forget. After a strong season in Moto5, expectations were high, but I struggled to get good results in SSP300 in the Portuguese Championship in my second year. Things changed when I joined a more competitive team – that’s when my results started improving again. But I believe a rider is built through adversity. Those difficult seasons pushed me to grow and become a better rider than I was before.”
Digging oneself out from a performance dip might be easy, facing the financial hurdles can be devastating. After a promising few years of racing, Madalena had to step away from racing due to financial situations. Fortunately for us, Madalena found her way back. “I simply couldn’t afford to keep going at the end of 2021. That changed in October 2024 when I went to see the WorldSBK round at Estoril. While there, I started looking into the women’s championship and realized it was designed to be both affordable and equal for all riders. That immediately caught my interest. The years away from racing gave me the chance to save up, and eventually, I made the decision to get back on track – this time in the WorldWCR.”
Preparation for her comeback has demanded relentless discipline. Madalena’s days blend physical training, technical practice, and mental training. “To prepare for the championship, I’m training regularly at the gym, hitting flat track training a few times a week, and practicing in my 190cc at a kart track. I’m also getting as much time as possible on a Yamaha R7—both during track days and in the Portuguese National Championship. On top of that, I’m using a virtual simulator to learn the tracks as best as I can before racing them for real.”
The 2024 season of WorldWCR presented the world with exhilarating competition in every lap of every race. As a new comer, Madalena can be analytical about herself and is also realistic about the challenges she will be facing. “My strength is probably my corner speed. It’s what I feel I do best. On the other hand, my weakness might be staying fully focused for long periods, which is something I need to work on. It’s hard to predict how my results will turn out. I’d love to score a few top-15 finishes in my first year, but it won’t be easy. I don’t know any of the tracks in the championship, and after time away from competition, I might have lost some race rhythm. ”
Gearing up for the WorldWCR season, Madalena’s routine revolves around balance. “A typical day starts with a big breakfast early in the morning, followed by some work. After lunch, I get ready for a gym session in the early afternoon. If the weather allows, I hit the flat track for an hour around 5 PM. On some days, I add a cardio session before dinner. In between all that, I’m reaching out to potential sponsors, because I need them to keep racing.”
With #22 emblazoned on her bike, Madalena is ready to write her next chapter, one lap at a time. We wish her all the best of luck in WorldWCR and beyond!
The 2025 WorldWCR Calendar
1. Dutch Round, TT Circuit Assen – 11-13 April
2. Acerbis Italian Round, Cremona Circuit – 2-4 May
3. Prosecco DOC UK Round, Donington Park – 11-13 July
4. Hungarian Round, Balaton Park Circuit* – 25-27 July
5. French Round, Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours – 5-7 September
6. Spanish Round, Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto – 17-19 October
* Subject to homologation
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