Despite a promising start to the weekend, Jonas Folger was not able to display his true potential on Sunday.
After Jonas Folger had found a good feeling for his BMW M 1000 RR superbike on Friday at the Circuito do Estoril, the situation changed to negatives in the first race on Saturday afternoon. Sunday, the second race day of the weekend turned out to be just as complicated for the 27-year-old WorldSBK rookie and his Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance crew.
With positive steps made in this morning’s warm-up, Folger finished in eleventh place in the top-class field and set his fastest lap time of the weekend with a 1’37.441. In Superpole race at lunch time, however, the Bavarian rider was not able get beyond 18th place. In the second main race, he unfortunately had to retire early due to technical problems.
In addition to the sporting events, the human side of motorcycle racing is also in the spotlight this Sunday. The tragic accident of Jason Dupasquier in the Moto3 World Championship also saddens the WorldSBK paddock. Jonas Folger and the entire Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance Team would like to take this opportunity to express their condolences to the family, friends, and team of the Swiss rider who passed away in the age of 19 years.
#94 Jonas FOLGER (Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance, BMW M 1000 RR), Superpole-Race: P18 +22.250 / Race 2: NC
“Today was unfortunately not the day we had hoped for. Overall, Estoril was not an easy weekend, although things looked a little better this afternoon. In the two races before, various reasons prevented us from doing better. In the Superpole race, I lost a lot of positions due to a botched start on the first lap and then I never found my speed to catch up again. The second race in the afternoon was over after only two laps. That was a shame because we should have finished in the points at least if everything had gone right. Unfortunately, there was a defect in the fuel pump.”
“The weekend was difficult, we tried a lot and found some positive things. But we now have to look on the tasks ahead, use the short break and then attack again in two weeks at Misano with the experience we have gained so far. But before that I would like to express my condolences to Jason Dupasquier’s family, his team and all his friends and acquaintances. After this sad news, it was not easy to focus on the essentials today.”
#EstorilWorldSBK - Superpole Race:
1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR / 16´13.053
2 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / +0.690
3 Scott REDDING / GBR / Aruba.it Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R / +1.180
18 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Bonovo Action MGM Racing Performance / BMW M 1000 RR / +22.250
#EstorilWorldSBK - Race 2:
1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR / 34´13.197
2 ChaZ DAVIES / GBR / Team GoEleven / Ducati Panigale V4 R / +2.787
3 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / +9.484
NC #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Bonovo Action MGM Racing Performance / BMW M 1000 RR
#WorldSBK Standing:
1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki / 110
2 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Yamaha / 75
3 Scott REDDING / GBR / Ducati / 74
18 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / BMW / 11
