The second season of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship is gearing up for its final showdown in Jerez from October 17th to 19th. Ahead of the last round, we continue our WorldWCR Special Series of rider interviews. Today, we bring you the story of Spanish rider Natalia Rivera, one of the rookies in the WorldWCR this year.
All photos © Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team
Natalia’s passion for motorcycling began not in the saddle, but as a spectator. Growing up during the rise of Spanish legends like Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, and Marc Marquez, Natalia eventually became one of them, chasing speed on a bike. “The first memory I have of motorsport is watching the races on TV with my dad. I loved it so much that I asked him for a bike… and we gave it a try! Year after year, things kept going well, leading us to where we are today – and I just hope to keep improving!”
Natalia’s career started at just six years old with KSB Sport, where she received all her foundational racing training. Gradually, she moved up the categories and eventually reached the Women’s European Championship in 2023.
In her rookie season in the Women’s European Championship, Natalia made an immediate impact, securing six podiums and finishing second overall. In 2024, as she hasn’t reached the age limit of the WorldWCR, she stayed in the Women’s European Championship for a second season. “I wasn’t 18 yet in 2024, so I couldn’t compete in the WorldWCR. That’s why we stayed in the Women’s European Championship – and I’d say it went pretty well since we managed to win the title.”
Once I turned 18 at the end of last year, I could finally make my debut in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship.
During her time in the Women’s European Championship, Natalia battled Beatriz Neila, who is now locked in a close title fight with Maria Herrera in the WorldWCR. Now, as a WorldWCR rookie, Natalia has the chance to resume her rivalry with Beatriz Neila and compete against her longtime idol, Maria Herrera. “When I was a kid, Maria was one of the few female riders competing, and it’s such a great feeling for me to now be racing against her in the same Championship. For me, it was a huge step forward.”
Entering a championship filled with experienced riders – many already familiar with both the WorldWCR and the single-spec Yamaha R7 from the previous season – Natalia hasn’t been daunted by the challenges. “My expectations for this season were to keep learning at every race and to improve as much as possible. We didn’t have much preseason testing, and most of the other riders already had experience with the bike and the Championship from 2024. I came from a smaller bike and had to adapt to a completely different reality, so my first goal was to get used to both the bike and the Championship. Besides adapting to the bike, another challenge was gaining experience as quickly as possible, but I think we’ve been able to make steady progress at every round.”
Winning the Women’s European Championship and enjoying all the races in my debut year in the World Championship are big achievements for me. And since I’m still quite young, I hope I’ll be able to update my best memories in the future!
Racing isn’t the only thing that defines Natalia. As a law student, she expertly balances her academic workload with the demands of training and competing. Facing the rigorous requirements of the world championship, so far, she’s still doing great. “When I’m not racing, I have gym sessions to stay in shape and be ready for the next race weekends. When I have the chance, I go riding on track with the bikes. Before a session or a race, I always do a warm-up routine to be fully ready.”
Her legal studies also contribute to her track performance, providing a level-headedness she considers her secret weapon. “My strength is being able to keep a cool head, especially in the toughest moments. Of course, it’s not always easy and sometimes you just can’t manage to do it, but I try to stay as focused and calm as possible, even in the most challenging situations.”
Natalia achieved her best results of the season at Magny-Cours, finishing sixth in both races. Scoring a total of 42 points this season so far, she ranks 11th in the championship. As the final round approaches, we wish her and the team the very best of luck for this season and the exciting journey ahead!
Paddock Sorority 
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