After a heavy crash at the Burt Munro Challenge derailed her 2026 season, Kiwi racer Avalon Lewis is finally heading back to the world stage for this weekend’s WorldWCR finale in Spain.
- Lewis returns as a wildcard at Jerez, October 16–18.
- A February Burt Munro Challenge crash derailed her full-season plans.
- The Kiwi hopes to finish in the points after months of rehabilitation.
New Zealand’s Avalon Lewis will make her long-awaited return to the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) this weekend, with the Carl Cox Motorsport rider confirmed as a wildcard entry for the final round at Jerez, Spain, on October 16–18.
It’s been a frustrating year for the Brisbane-based Kiwi, who was originally set to contest the entire 2026 championship after finishing eighth overall in her first full season last year.
However, a heavy crash at February’s Burt Munro Challenge put those plans on hold, leaving Lewis facing months of recovery from neck injuries and concussion-like symptoms.
Now, after a lengthy rehabilitation and plenty of time back on a Yamaha R7 at Australian race meetings, she’s finally ready to return to international competition.
“It feels like a bit of closure,” Lewis said. “We started this year with the intent to race the full WCR season and put so much effort and preparation into it. We were about three weeks out from the start of the season when it became apparent my injury really wasn’t going to heal in time for me to give it 100 per cent at that level. To be able to go to the final round means we can finish this year how we meant it to be.”
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“To be able to go to the final round means we can finish this year how we meant it to be.”
A CRASH THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Lewis’s season unravelled at the Burt Munro Challenge in February, where she suffered a high-speed crash right in front of team owner and international DJ Carl Cox, who was watching from trackside.
Although she escaped without any broken bones, the impact aggravated previous neck injuries, leaving her with pinched nerves, headaches and restricted movement.
“I had a big crash in February at the Burt Munro Challenge, and unfortunately I was right in front of Carl, who was there spectating for the weekend. Not what I wanted to do,” she explained.
“My neck almost seized up and I had pinched nerves. One day I could be fine and the next I couldn’t turn my head at all.”
What followed was a frustrating period of treatment, physiotherapy and attempts to get back to full fitness.
“It’s been a long, up-and-down journey,” Lewis said. “All year I’ve been trying to come back to racing to do WCR like we planned. I’ve been riding the Yamaha R7 here in Australia a lot, doing some local race meetings and getting as much track time as possible to monitor how I’m going. I finally feel like we’re back there now.”
A TOUGH RETURN AT JEREZ
While Lewis is understandably excited about returning to the world championship paddock, she’s realistic about the challenge ahead.
The rest of the field has enjoyed an entire season of competition, while Lewis will have very little time to get back up to speed.
With just 25 minutes of practice followed by 25 minutes of qualifying before the racing begins, there’s not much opportunity to ease herself back into things.
“The whole field has done a whole year of racing and I’m coming in for the last one to try and compete with them. It’s going to be incredibly hard,” she admitted.
“Everyone’s also been testing at Jerez and we couldn’t quite make that happen, so we’re a little bit on the back foot.”
On the positive side, Lewis knows the Spanish circuit, having finished 11th in both WorldWCR races there last season.
And it’s a track she’s looking forward to riding again.
“The fast, flowing corners. The tracks in Europe are just insane, so fast and so perfect. You can use all the track, all the kerbs.”
Her goals for the weekend are modest but achievable, with a points finish the main target.
“To get a top 10 would be out of this world. To finish inside the points, so top 15, would be a good result,” she said.
CARL COX STANDS BEHIND HIS RIDER
Throughout her recovery, Lewis has continued to receive the full backing of Carl Cox Motorsport, with Cox himself particularly impressed by her determination to return.
“I was trackside at the Burt Munro Challenge when Avalon came off, and that’s the last thing you ever want to see,” Cox said.
“What’s impressed me most this year is how she’s handled the recovery. It’s been a long, frustrating road, and she’s never once stopped working to get back. That tells you everything about her.”
“Getting back on the grid for the final round at Jerez is a win in itself, and whatever happens on track, the whole Carl Cox Motorsport family is right behind her.”
ONE FINAL WEEKEND
Lewis will have plenty of support at Jerez, with crew members travelling from New Zealand, Australia and Germany, while her husband and son will also be there to cheer her on.
The championship itself is heading for an exciting conclusion, with María Herrera leading Beatriz Neila by 44 points heading into the final two races.
For Lewis, though, this weekend is about something more personal than championship positions.
After months of uncertainty, medical appointments and missed races, simply being back amongst the world’s best female racers is a significant achievement.
And if she can come away with a handful of championship points, it’ll be a pretty satisfying way to put a difficult 2026 season behind her.
