For his first year in MotoGP, the German from the Tech 3 team does not lack motivation. Faced with a teammate as efficient as Johann Zarco, Folger did not give up and continued to attack. Watch him above braking in Barcelona, arms braced on the fork pressed as far as possible, in hellish deceleration at the end of the straight, with the rear wheel in the air. He wants it, Jonas.
Folger is the only rider in MotoGP to have scored points in each of the first seven Grands Prix. He even managed to finish five times in the top 10. This is a great opportunity for him to shine on Sunday in the Netherlands, where many German spectators from the west of their country are traditionally present.
Jonas finished seventh at Assen in 2015 and tenth last year in Moto2, on a circuit which is less successful for him, for example, than Brno where he is very strong. In qualifying, he has never achieved a time likely to make him start from the front row, since he raced there for the first time in 125 in 2009. But the MotoGP at Assen, Jack Miller proved it. Last year was a different story.
To Jonas Folger, who are " I am sure that the Assen circuit will be positive for us because the track suits the style of the Yamaha. It is very sinuous and fluid. However, I hope the weather remains good because in Assen it is always a bit tricky and unpredictable with the rain.
“Nevertheless, the team and I want to continue in the same way as we did in Barcelona. We made good progress, which allowed us to improve and be consistent throughout the weekend.
“We did a great job there, so we intend to prove we can do the same in the Netherlands to finish the weekend with a good result before heading to my home race. »
According to Hervé Poncharal, team manager, “ After a short but well-deserved rest, the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team is ready to return to racing mode. Assen is always a very special event but especially because our sponsor Motul is the title partner of this race.
“In addition, the Netherlands is a place where several key motorcycle manufacturers have their European headquarters and we have many staff members coming from Yamaha Europe but also from Yamaha Motor Corporation Japan. This is a big weekend and there will be many meetings for some teams, but luckily for us we have managed to secure Johann and Jonas for 2018, which we are extremely happy and proud of.
“Regardless, the short break was well deserved for everyone after the exciting races in Mugello and Catalunya, and Monday's test in Barcelona. Also, we had an event at the Tech3 workshop last week with Stanley Black & Decker and there will be some interesting videos online soon where everyone will see that we are having fun while working!
“As for the race, we know that Johann Zarco is in the second group currently chasing the two championship leaders, Viñales and Dovizioso. It will be very important to score big points to go to the Sachsenring with a lot of points in our pockets.
“Jonas Folger had the best GP of his short career in the upper class in Catalonia, where he tried some interesting things. We are very happy to go to Assen, a historic circuit where the racing is always really fun and where there are a lot of fans from Northern Europe. The temperature will be cooler compared to the last races, and there will be many fans and guests with us, and we are all really looking forward to seeing them and putting on a good show. »
