The MotoGP™ world is set to get a further feminine touch with two full time entries in the Moto3™ class with the returning Ana Carrasco and rookie Maria Herrera.

Carrasco will be contesting her third year in the World Championship with Aleix Espargaro’s Boe41 RBA outfit alongside Argentinian Gabriel Rodrigo and Finish rider Niklas Ajo. Her previous season had not been the most successful one for numerous reasons, resulting in her not competing in the final rounds of 2014. Yet with 2015 winter testing having already gotten underway, the speedy 17-year-old from Murcia has given her KTM bike a shakedown on track in Valencia.

“I believe it’s a very competitive machine”, she commented. “I haven’t been able to try many things, and was lapping mainly to regain my confidence and get a feel for the bike. But there is still a lot to improve.”

Joining Carrasco on the grid this year is Maria Herrera from near Toledo in Spain. She was the runner up in the FIM CEV Repsol Championship in 2013, and was once again one of the front-runners in the same championship in 2014. Having done numerous wildcards in the World Championship, she now steps up to the Calvo Team alongside Isaac Viñales, which will run Husqvarna machines from 2015 onwards.

The 18-year-old also got her first taste in pre-season testing: “I was very happy with the first tests, as they really helped me to get to know the bike. I was comfortable from the first laps. The feeling under braking was very good, which allowed me to go quick.”

Both Carrasco and Herrera have taken different paths to get where they are today, yet both share the same passion for racing motorcycles. And whilst many eyes will be on both to see who comes out on top as “fastest female”, no one doubts that they can be “fastest overall”.