Despite extremely difficult conditions, mainly due to the changeable weather over the past few days, 32-year-old Jonas Folger was once again thrilled by Suzuka and the events during race week in Japan. Folger didn’t arrive in Japan until late Monday evening although, the first test sessions for the 47th edition of the endurance classic were already scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Racing again with S-PULSE DREAM RACING SUZUKI, he shared the team’s GSX R1000R Superbike with Japanese rider Sho Nishimura and Frenchman Jérémy Guarnoni, who brought a wealth of experience from endurance racing on World Championship level. The trio gelled quickly, and their speed made it clear early on that a top ten finish was a realistic possibility.

After Friday’s qualifying sessions, the team was ranked in 16th place in the overall standings; Folgers’ fastest lap time from his group’s Qualifying 2 session was only a few tenths of a second slower than Nishimura’s personal best, although the Japanese rider has a better knowledge of the Suzuka circuit.

The weather took a turn for the worse day by day leading up to the weekend. Rain had already disrupted Saturday’s schedule, and on Sunday, the track at the Suzuka International Circuit remained wet throughout the entire eight-hour race. As in the previous year, Folger had been selected by the team as its starting rider. In the final stages, the race was neutralized by a safety car period due to heavy rain. By that point, Folger and his team had already secured eleventh place.

Jonas FOLGER (S-PULSE DREAM RACING SUZUKI #95, Suzuki GSX R1000R):

«My second time in Suzuka was a lot of fun again, even though the conditions on Sunday were extremely challenging. In the end, we finished in eleventh place, which I think calls for a little celebration with the team. The weather was very changeable over the last two days, and the heavy rain during the race was a real hurdle, but we handled it well. The hardest part was adapting to it as quickly as possible, and given those circumstances, P11 is really good. Considering that the top teams and their riders had already completed eight to ten days of testing under a wide variety of conditions, our performance is quite remarkable. I think we can be satisfied with that.»

«It’s a shame that a safety car period during the first stint cost me a lot of time. I think I lost at least a minute and a half because of it, and unfortunately, we were hit by a second safety car period right after that. Without those time losses, a spot in the top ten would have been very likely. But we came together as a strong team over these few days, and our rider lineup, with Sho and Jérémy, was really good. Each of us did a great job both on and off track and proved ourselves to be team players. Plus, the entire team was highly motivated, and the pit crew always did a first-class job. For Hideyuki Ogata, it was also the first time he led S-PULSE as team principal at this event, which was certainly not easy for him. After all, last year, still as a rider in his own team, he was mainly occupied with other tasks.»

«I can well imagine that he still has a lot of work ahead of him, namely, evaluating and analyzing this week’s results and using them to set the course for next year so that the team can perform even better. But I don’t want to be misunderstood: They really did everything very well, and everyone gave it their all. Maybe next year we’ll have the opportunity to take part in a test before the race week, which would be a huge advantage from our perspective as riders. Because if we can improve our pace by up to a second with a bit more preparation, we’ll not only line up further up the starting grid but also be closer to the top teams during the race, which of course helps us find a better rhythm and finish a few spots higher at the end of the eight hours.»

«Overall, there’s still room for improvements in our preparations, but considering the circumstances we ultimately faced, we did well. In the end, I had an incredible amount of joy again; the atmosphere was great, and I really enjoyed Suzuka once more. I’m looking forward to hopefully having the opportunity to do it again next year. First of all, however, I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to the entire team, including my teammates Sho and Jérémy, the technicians and mechanics in the pit, and all the other helpers who took so much work off our hands during this grueling week — thank you very much; all of this together is what makes Suzuka so unique and unforgettable. Finally, I’d like to thank KTM once again for allowing me to participate in this event.»

«Suzuka 8 Hours» 2026 - Final Results:
1 Honda HRC (Takumi TAKAHASHI, Jonathan REA, Somkiat CHANTRA) / Honda CBR 1000 RR-R-SP (Bridgestone) 188 Laps
2 Yamaha Factory Racing Team (Katsuyuki NAGASUKA, Jack MILLER, Andrea LOCATELLI) / Yamaha YZF-R1 (Bridgestone) +1´34.280
3 BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team (Markus REITERBERGER, Steven ODENDAAL, Michael VAN DER MARK) / BMW M 1000 RR (Bridgestone) +1´44.087
…
11 S-PULSE DREAM RACING SUZUKI (Sho NISHIMURA, Jonas FOLGER, Jérémy GUARNONI) / Suzuki (Bridgestone) / 183 Laps

Der Beitrag #2026Suzuka8Hours: A Top Ten finish narrowly missed at Japan’s classic race erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

Jonas Folger, 32, certainly can’t complain about a lack of work right now. After the race weekend in Most, the Bavarian rider headed directly to Suzuka, Japan. After just one night’s rest, the race week there got underway on Tuesday with the first preparations for the legendary eight-hour race.

Actually, the matter had already been settled last August, after Folger had done an outstanding job for the S-PULSE team during his debut at Suzuka, where he particularly shone as a start- and finish rider for the team, so he is more than welcome to return. The final confirmation from both sides was practically just a formality.

This time, Folger will share the team’s Suzuki GSX-R1000R which is headed by Hideyuki Ogata, who retired from racing at the 2025 Suzuka race, with French rider Jerémy Guarnoni and Japanese rider Sho Nishimura.

Suzuka also stands out because of its unique schedule. The race week begins as early as Tuesday with the first test sessions. Qualifying takes place on Friday, and on Saturday afternoon, the top ten teams from the qualifying standings compete against each other in the «Top Ten Trail» to secure the best starting positions. The main event, the «Suzuka 8 Hours» starts on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. CEST) and ends after dark at 7:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. CEST).

#94 Jonas FOLGER (S-PULSE DREAM RACING Suzuki, Suzuki GSX R1000R):

«I’m really looking forward to being back in Suzuka. It’s not just any race weekend; it’s something very special. It’s also hard to believe how quickly a year goes by; it feels like my debut at Suzuka in early August of last year wasn’t that long ago. I’m really happy to be back and racing for the same team. I’m truly grateful for that, and I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank KTM for their understanding and approval. The fact that I’m working with the S-PULSE team again this week naturally makes things a bit easier. We know each other, and the mechanics know what’s important to me and how I work. Plus, the team has put together a strong rider lineup. So, I think that if everything goes smoothly, we can have a good weekend. On top of that, we have an update for the bike and good tires from Bridgestone. In theory, we actually have everything we need to really enjoy Suzuka.»

«The trip went well, even though things were a bit tight because of the last-minute assignment in Most. But I arrived safely and settled in quickly. During the first test sessions on Tuesday, everything came a bit more easily to me since I knew the track from last year. That helped me get into a good rhythm pretty quickly, and we were able to start working on the bike’s setup right away. But with the new rider lineup, it felt like we were starting all over again. I have two new teammates: Sho Nishimura and Jerémy Guarnoni. So, the setup of the bike is heading in a slightly different direction. But both are top-notch, great team players, and very fast to boot. Jerémy knows the scene well, having raced for BMW in the Endurance World Championship for a long time. So, he brings a lot of experience and good ideas to the table. Sho, our Japanese rider, knows the track inside and out and is therefore very fast.»

«So far, we’ve been able to try out a lot of things, and we also spent a lot of time on a rain-soaked track starting at noon today. In the end, we discovered something that helped us improve significantly. We’re currently in twelfth place, but we still have plenty of potential to tap into. If it turns out to be a wet race, we’ve already found a good setup. So far, everything has gone well, and we can be satisfied, especially with the big step forward we took this afternoon. I’m really happy and thrilled to be back here at this truly unique race. Many thanks to the S-PULSE team management for selecting me again. The warm welcome they gave me once more was incredibly heartfelt.»

Der Beitrag #2026Suzuka8Hours: Once is never enough — the irresistible charm of Suzuka erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

For 32-year-old Jonas Folger, the trip to Most in the northwest of the Czech Republic was not just a temporary return to the national championship nearly six years after he won the Superbike class title in 2020. Rather, the focus over the past few days at the Autodrom Most has been on the further development of the «Next Generation» Supersport bike from the Austrian manufacturer based in Mattighofen, for which Folger works full-time as a development and test rider.

Round three of the 2026 «EURO MOTO» season, formerly known as International German Motorcycle Championship, was marked by extreme hot conditions, which pushed both the riders and their equipment to its limits.

Expectations heading into the race weekend were very low, and all practice sessions on Friday and Saturday made it clear in which areas this project, which is still in its infancy, needs improvement. Folger finished seventh in the combined timesheets for free practices and qualifyings, trailing the fastest time by about 1.5 seconds on both occasions.

The races proved to be the ultimate test for the equipment. Despite the small number of laps completed in the races, the results from the weekend were very positive.

After the gruelling weekend in Most, Folger will travel directly to Japan for the next event, where he will compete for the second time since 2025 with Team S-PULSE DREAM RACING in the famous «Suzuka 8 Hours” endurance race.

#94 Jonas FOLGER (Freudenberg PALIGO - KTM Test Team, KTM RC 990 R)

«The race weekend in Most was a successful test for us under race conditions. We were able to learn a lot. That’s why I’m glad we made and carried out this decision. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to finish either in one of the two races. Those races would have provided us with further important insights. Now we’re missing that data, which we could have learned so many things from. Nevertheless, we have a very long to-do list of next steps, exactly what we need. Unfortunately, the results fell a bit short of our expectations, even though they weren’t the main focus. The priority was to gain experience. In fact, the extremely hot temperatures actually worked in our favour. The conditions were a brutal test of endurance, with air temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees and over 60 degrees on the asphalt.»

«In that regard, it was really helpful to push everything to the limits right from the start. That gave us a good sense of what needs to be improved with the equipment. Aside from that, I had a blast being back in the championship and competing on track against so many fast riders in this class. Many of them showed us where we’re at the moment and highlighted the areas where we need to improve or make changes. This was just the beginning, and we still have a long way to go. I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped out. Everyone gave their all despite the almost inhuman conditions. The mechanics worked hard on the bike, often late into the night. It was definitely a very educational weekend and, as a result, a successful and important one in terms of our test program. Once again, a big thank you to KTM and Team Freudenberg- I’m already looking forward to our next outing together.»

EURO MOTO SSP – Combined Free Practice Times:

1 Dirk GEIGER / GER / Team Apreco – Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R9 / 1´35.649

2 Daniel BLIN / POL / Automarket AF Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V2 / 1´36.364 +0.715

3 Lennox LEHMANN / GER / Team Apreco – Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R9 / 1´36.400 +0.751

…

7 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Freudenberg PALIGO – KTM Test Team / KTM RC 990 R / 1´37.178 +1.529

EURO MOTO SSP – Combined Qualifying Sessions (1 + 2):

1 Dirk GEIGER / GER / Team Apreco – Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R9 / 1´34.857

2 Lennox LEHMANN / GER / Team Apreco – Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R9 / 1´35.113 +0.256

3 Marcel BRENNER / SWI / Automarket AF Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V2 / 1´35.873 +1.016

…

7 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Freudenberg PALIGO – KTM Test Team / KTM RC 990 R / 1´36.535 +1.678

Der Beitrag #EUROMOTO2026: Educational weekend in the heat of Most erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

Jonas Folger, 32, who works full-time as a development rider for KTM, and the Bischofswerda-based team led by Michael and Casten Freudenberg have already completed several tests as part of this project. The goal is to further develop the KTM RC 990 R into a ready-to-race bike for the new generation Supersport category.

This weekend’s round three of the «EURO MOTO» season — formerly known as International German Motorcycle Championship — at the Autodrom Most in the northwest of the neighbouring Czech Republic is likely to provide ideal settings for the next step in this still-young project.

However, KTM, Racing Team Freudenberg, and Folger himself are aware that this is a test under race conditions. Therefore, no expectations are being set, especially since the engine specifications have been adapted to the regulations that will take effect next year.

Folger and the Freudenberg team will compete in Most with a wild card in the series’ highly competitive Supersport class.

#94 Jonas FOLGER (Racing Team Freudenberg, KTM RC 990 R)

«First of all, I’d like to thank everyone involved who made it possible for us to participate in our first race weekend with this still-new project. Our start in Most this weekend came together at the very last minute. But I’m really looking forward to it and am already very excited. Our top priority, however, is to test under race conditions. The results are definitely secondary; we just want to complete a rigorous agenda. A race weekend with longer sessions and competitive riders on track should be well-suited for that. Still, it would be nice if we could do well or even pull off a little surprise.»

«At this point, however, it’s worth mentioning that we’ll be competing with next year’s spec. That means we’ll have less engine power than the rest of the grid. So, it won’t be easy. Our main focus is on testing chassis components and settings, and we also still have a few items on our to-do list regarding the bike’s ergonomics. Even though our chances of keeping up with the others are slim, I’m really looking forward to this weekend, because it’s the first time we’re competing as a team with this bike. A race weekend is always different from a test. The tension alone makes all the difference. For my part, I’ll do everything I can to make sure it’s a great weekend in Most.»

Jonas FOLGER’s Profil:
Age: 32 (born on 13 August 1993)
Occupation: Developement rider
Residence: Mühldorf am Inn (Upper Bavaria, Germany)
Height: 180 cm
Weigth: 72 kg
Bike: KTM RC 990 R
Racing Number: #94

Time Schedule Euro Moto Supersport Most:
Friday 26 June: FP1 11:25 – 11:50
Friday 26 June: FP2 15:10 – 15:35
Saturday 27 June: Q1 09:30 – 09:55
Saturday 27 June: Q2 12:55 – 13:20
Saturday 27 June: Race 1 16:45 (14 Laps – 58.968 km)
Sunday 28 June: Warm-up 09:30 – 09:40
Sunday 28 June: Race 2 13:50 (14 Laps – 58.968 km)

Der Beitrag #EUROMOTO2026: Wildcard in Most with KTM and Racing Team Freudenberg erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

Stepping in for injured Maverick Viñales in the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team, Jonas Folger delivered a performance on the second day of the French Grand Prix that mirrored his showing from the previous day. Although he was a good half-second off his lap time in Practice session during this FP2, he found a strong rhythm in qualifying as he battled for grid positions.

KTM’s full-time development rider was already under the 1´32 barrier on his very first flying lap in Q1 and improved his time even further on the following lap. In what is his comeback to the premier class MotoGP™ after a three-year hiatus, the 32-year-old Bavarian proved to be a quick starter during the 15-minute session, as he also went all in on his first fast lap after the pit stop and set a personal best of 1´31.826. This put him just 2.5 seconds behind Marc Marquez’s fastest Q1 time and only one second behind his KTM brand-colleague Brad Binder, who finished second-to-last in qualifying.

The Sprint in the afternoon, which took place in glorious weather and excellent conditions, promised to be an exciting competition. When the starting lights went out, Folger got off to a good start from his position at the back of the field, and by the first lap he was just a hair’s breadth behind the riders in front of him. As the field settled into a line, he began to put pressure on Luca Marini. However, the Italian rider crashed in turn six on the second lap, causing Folger to crash as well. Both riders escaped uninjured.

The Grand Prix will take place on Sunday over 27 laps at the historic Circuit Bugatti in Le Mans. The race starts at 2:00 p.m. CEST. With rain in the forecast, the weather conditions look less favourable than they have been over the past two days in France.

#94 Jonas FOLGER
Red Bull KTM Tech3, KTM RC16
Grid position: 22 / Sprint: NC

«Unfortunately, it was only a short Sprint for me today. But I enjoyed it right up until the crash, which came completely out of the blue. We reviewed the data and found that I didn’t do anything wrong. So, it was probably a combination of various factors. There were a lot of crashes today, which shows just how fine the line can be. In any case, I felt good and thoroughly enjoyed those few laps. I was close to the action and was able to watch the other riders and continue learning what really matters. Of course, I’m disappointed about the early DNF this afternoon, but I’m also satisfied with the progress we’ve made so far, the feeling I have on the bike, and the improvements I’ve achieved. We still have a long way to go, but the positive thing is that I understand the bike and am already riding similarly to the others. It’s great that the team supports me so much and has given me so much help that I can take these steps in a clear direction. Thanks, guys, for your great support.»

#FrenchGP – MotoGP™ Qualifying Results:
1 Francesco BAGNAIA / ITA / Ducati Lenovo Team / Ducati / 1´29.634
2 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Ducati Lenovo Team / Ducati / 1´29.646 +0.012
3 Marco BEZZECCHI / ITA / Aprilia Racing / Aprilia / 1´29.657 +0.023
…
22 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Red Bull KTM Tech3 / 1´31.826 (Q1)

#FrenchGP – MotoGP™ Sprint (13 Laps):
1 Jorge MARTIN / SPA / Aprilia Racing / Aprilia / 19´46.830
2 Francesco BAGNAIA / ITA / Ducati Lenovo Team / Ducati / +1.107
3 Marco BEZZECCHI / ITA / Aprilia Racing / Aprilia / +2.786
…
NC #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Red Bull KTM Tech3 / KTM

MotoGP™ World Standings:
1 Marco BEZZECCHI / ITA / Aprilia / 108
2 Jorge MARTIN / SPA / Aprilia / 104
3 Pedro ACOSTA / SPA / KTM / 72
…
#94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / KTM

Der Beitrag FrenchGP: Early fall in the sprint does not detract positive overall results so far erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

32-year-old Jonas Folger put in very solid performances this weekend as a substitute for Maverick Viñales. His crash during the Sprint on Saturday afternoon had no further consequences, so he was able to take part in Sunday morning’s warm-up as planned — the final preparation for the Grand Prix that afternoon.

The 10-minute session took place in dry conditions. Shortly afterward, it began to rain. It was only a brief shower, so the 4.1-kilometer track at the Circuit Bugatti dried out quickly. When the race started, the conditions were clear: the entire field lined up on slick tires.

Folger, who had started from the back of the grid, had a good reaction when the starting lights went out, just as he had the day before. For one lap, he was right on the heels of the riders in front of him. But starting on the second lap, his lack of racing experience became apparent, and the gap began to get bigger.

#94 Jonas FOLGER (Red Bull KTM Tech3, KTM RC16)
Startplatz: 21 / Rennen: P16

«Those were an incredibly gruelling 27 laps today. Leading up to Saturday after qualifying, I had already made some good progress and felt like I had a better control of the bike in certain areas. But a race is always a different story, and it showed us that we still have a lot of work ahead of us. I wasn’t able to replicate the laps from practice or qualifying over the full distance. Also, I didn’t feel particularly comfortable with the seating position, so I think we need to focus more on that if I get another chance to race, because I had problems with my arms and lost strength in my left shoulder. That was another reason why I couldn’t keep up the pace, and since I was riding alone, I didn’t have any points of reference either.»

«But in any case, it was great to complete the entire race, especially without any major mistakes, and to gain this valuable experience. I now know exactly what we need to keep working on. Looking at the weekend as a whole, I’m satisfied with my performance. I managed to achieve my personal goal over a single lap: not losing more than three seconds, except for the first practice session, which was almost like a fresh start for me. I had hoped for a bit more from the race. But maybe I’ll manage it next time, if I get another chance. First of all, I’d like to thank KTM for selecting me for this role, and of course the entire Tech3 team for their fantastic support throughout the weekend. A special thanks goes to my crew, who were so patient and helped me incredibly.»

MotoGP™ Sprint (27 Laps):
1 Jorge MARTIN / SPA / Aprilia Racing / Aprilia / 41´18.001
2 Marco BEZZECCHI / ITA / Aprilia Racing / Aprilia / +0.477
3 Ai OGURA / JPN / Trackhouse MotoGP Team / Aprilia / +0.874
…
16 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Red Bull KTM Tech3 / KTM / +73.229

MotoGP™ World Standings:
1 Marco BEZZECCHI / ITA / Aprilia / 128
2 Jorge MARTIN / SPA / Aprilia / 127
3 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO / ITA / Ducati / 84
…
#94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / KTM

Der Beitrag #FrenchGP: Lots of valuable experience gained in long comeback race erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

Jonas Folger, 32, who works full-time as a test rider for KTM, is making a temporary return to the premier class of motorcycle racing after a three-year hiatus. Recent complications stemming from a shoulder injury sustained by Red Bull KTM Tech3’s permanent rider, Maverick Viñales, during a crash at the Sachsenring last July are forcing the Spaniard to take another break.

Due to a personnel shortage, KTM turned to Folger once again, as their MotoGP test rider, Pol Espargaro, is also unable to fill in for his compatriot due to a wrist injury. In a way, this brings things full circle for Folger, as he made his MotoGP debut nine years ago with the in the south of France based Tech3 Team, and back in 2023 he substituted Espargaró for six Grand Prix with Red Bull KTM Tech3. At Le Mans, Folger finished the race 13th place.

Folger, who is currently working closely with KTM to get their Supersport RC990R race-ready — and this project sees some race appearances planned for this year too — is still a long way from being on-par with the demands of day-to-day in racing at MotoGP level, despite his intensive physical training.

To make his return aboard a MotoGP bike during a race weekend easier, Folger took part in a test at Mugello earlier this week, where his main focus was on getting used to high speeds again. During his two-day stay in Italy, he also concentrated on the bike’s ergonomics and handling, which allowed him to develop a good feel for his machine ahead of this weekend.

The French Grand Prix at Le Mans, held at one of the most historic circuits on the calendar, is already the season’s round five.

#94 Jonas FOLGER (Red Bull KTM Tech3, KTM RC16):

«First of all, I’d like to say that I feel very sorry for Maverick; I wish him a quick and full recovery so he can get back on his bike soon. For my part, I’m really excited and also a bit proud that KTM has entrusted me with this task again. To be honest, I thought about it for a moment, but in the end I’m glad to have this opportunity again, so I accepted right away. Personally, I’m really looking forward to working with all the guys at Tech3 again because I have shared history with this team, and it’ll be great to see everyone again. Plus, it’s always special to return to the MotoGP paddock, both as a guest and — even more so — as a rider. The welcome was overwhelming. Even the biggest names of the sport gave me a very warm welcome back.»

«In Le Mans, a huge challenge awaits me - I’m under no illusions about that. Getting back into racing after so many years away and returning to a MotoGP bike means adapting quickly and learning a lot over the weekend. I’m not feeling any pressure from KTM. I have to ride for myself, find a good rhythm, and get the most out of it. My only goal is not to lose 3 seconds per lap. I have to grasp things quickly and put everything into practice. Luckily, I’ve been in this situation before when I replaced Pol Espargaro a few years ago. It was an absolute grind to get on this bike overnight. The others go out in the first practice session and go full throttle. I have to make sure I don’t rush anything, but at the same time, I can’t lose too much. That’s going to be a massive challenge, no question about it. But I believe that in the end, the positives will outweigh the difficulties. I’m really looking forward to these challenges and can hardly wait!»

Jonas FOLGERs Profil:
Alter: 32 (geboren am 13. August 1993)
Beruf: Testfahrer
Wohnort: Mühldorf am Inn (Oberbayern, Deutschland)
Größe: 180 cm
Gewicht: 72 kg
Motorrad: KTM RC16
Startnummer: 94

#FrenchGP – MotoGP™ Zeitplan für das Wochenende (MESZ):
Freitag, 8. Mai: 10:45 - 11:30 MotoGP™ Free Practice 1
Freitag, 8. Mai: 15:00 - 16:00 MotoGP™ Practice
Samstag, 9. Mai: 10:10 - 10:40 MotoGP™ Free Practice 2
Samstag, 9. Mai: 10:50 - 11:05 MotoGP™ Qualifying 1
Samstag, 9. Mai: 11:15 - 11:30 MotoGP™ Qualifying 2
Samstag, 9. Mai: 15:00 MotoGP™ Sprint (13 Runden - 53,076 km)
Sonntag, 10. Mai: 09:40 - 09:50 MotoGP™ Warm-Up
Sonntag, 10. Mai: 14:00 MotoGP™ Rennen (27 Runden – 110,575 km)

Streckendaten Le Mans:
Erstmals Austragungsort eines GP: 1969
Länge: 4.193 Meter
Breite: 12 Meter
Längste Gerade: 674 Meter
Linkskurven: 5
Rechtskurven: 9
Allzeit schnellste MotoGP™ Rundenzeit: 1´29.324 (2025)
Beste MotoGP™ Pole-Position: 1´29.324 (2022)
MotoGP™ Rundenrekord: 1´31.107 (2024)
Jonas Folgers Resultate 2025: Startplatz - / -

MotoGP™ WM-Kalender 2026:
1. März – Grand Prix of Thailand, Chang International Circuit
22. März – Grand Prix of Brazil, Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia Ayrton Senna
29. April – Grand Prix of the Americas, Circuit of The Americas
26. April – Gran Premio of Spain, Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto
10. Mai – Grand Prix of France, Circuit Bugatti Le Mans
17. Mai – Grand Prix of Catalonia, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
31. Mai – Grand Prix of Italy, Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello
7. Juni – Grand Prix of Hungary, Balaton Park Circuit
21. Juni – Grand Prix of Czechia, Automotodromo Brno
28. Juni – Grand Prix of the Netherlands, TT Circuit Assen
11. Juli – Grand Prix of Germany, Sachsenring
9. August – Grand Prix of Great Britain, Silverstone Circuit
30. August – Grand Prix of Aragon, MotorLand Aragón
13. September – Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
20. September – Grand Prix of Austria, Red Bull Ring
4. Oktober – Grand Prix of Japan, Mobility Resort Motegi
11. Oktober – Grand Prix of Indonesia, Mandalika International Circuit
25. Oktober – Grand Prix of Australia, Phillip Ilsand GP Circuit
1. November – Grand Prix of Malaysia, Sepang International Circuit
8. November – Grand Prix of Qatar, Lusail International Circuit
22. November – Grand Prix of Portugal, Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
29. November – Grand Prix of Valencia, Circuit Ricardo Tormo

Der Beitrag #FrenchGP: A surprising MotoGP™ comeback erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

For 32-year-old Jonas Folger, who is filling in for Spaniard Maverick Viñales at Red Bull KTM Tech3 this weekend while Viñales is sidelined with a lingering shoulder injury, began the team’s home Grand Prix, which is based in southern France, with a sense of unease. He found it difficult to hide tension of the task ahead at his comeback, which came together at the very last minute.

But the KTM test rider drew on his experience, stayed calm and impressed with a solid performance as the day wore on. While the watch stopped at a 1´34.098 on his fastest lap during this morning’s free practice session, it took only Five laps for Folger in Practice session in the afternoon in good conditions to break into the 1´33 range. From that point on, he improved his lap time by half a second in virtually every run of the one hour long session.

At the end of the day, Folger set a personal best in 1´32.450. That put him just 2.5 seconds behind the fastest lap time set during the weekend’s first real time attack at the 4.1km track. More important to him, however, are the insights he gained in Terms of his riding and the improved feeling he now has for the KTM RC16.

MotoGP action at the Grand Prix of France kicks off on Saturday morning at 10:10 a.m. local time with the second free practice session, followed by Q1 and Q2. The 13-lap Sprint is scheduled for the afternoon, with the start set for 3:00 p.m.

#94 Jonas FOLGER (Red Bull KTM Tech3, KTM RC16)
Practice: P22 - 1´32.450 (20/21)

«I was really excited before the first practice session this morning. Of course, I was also a bit nervous, because during the long time I’ve been away from MotoGP, the level of competition has risen incredibly and the competition has become tougher and tougher. So I’m just happy to have finished the day, after such a long break, with 2.5 seconds off the fastest time. I didn’t crash, I understood the bike, and I worked on adapting my riding style during both sessions. Still, today’s sessions were enormously exhausting for me. Aside from that, it’s fascinating how much riding styles have evolved with corner speeds are much higher now, everything looks smoother, and it’s gotten much faster. Many thanks to the entire team for their support, which is a huge help to me.»

#FrenchGP - MotoGP™ Practice Classification:
1 Johann ZARCO / FRA / Castrol Honda LCR / Honda / 1´29.907
2 Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO / ITA / Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team / Ducati / 1´29.917 +0.010
3 Francesco BAGNAIA / ITA / Ducati Lenovo Team / Ducati / 1´30.045 +0.138
…
22 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Red Bull KTM Tech3 / KTM / 1´32.450 +2.543

#FrenchGP - MotoGP™ Time Schedule for Saturday May 9th (CEST):
10:10 - 10:40 FP
10:50 - 11:05 Q1
11:15 - 11:30 Q2
15:00 Sprint (13 Laps - 54.509 km)

Der Beitrag #FrenchGP: Steady progress on Friday erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

Had Jonas Folger, who has temporarily returned to racing, known this in advance, he would probably have had a sleepless night from Saturday to Sunday. The decision to send the 32-year-old rider as the first of the three riders into the gruelling eight hours of Suzuka was preceded by a strong warm-up by the Bavarian rider.

Folger finished the session in 13th place, just 1.3 seconds behind the fastest time. The decisive factor was a change in setup, which gave him a better feeling for his race bike. However, something happened at the start that you cannot blame a Suzuka newcomer for, namely that he missed the start signal a bit and therefore lost the sprint to his bike compared to his competitors.

A few laps later, that was long forgotten, as Folger impressed on track with his pure speed and fighting spirit. He quickly overtook one opponent after another and soon saw P15 displayed on his pit board, but shortly afterwards slipped out of the top 20 due to a riding error. Sodo Hamahara then took over the bike, followed by team owner Hideyuki Ogata, who sent Folger back onto the track after him.

At this point, the team was already within reach of the top ten. However, a crash by Hamahara, a brief pit stop, and another crash by the Japanese rider dashed all of the team’s hopes for a good result. Despite the unpleasant end to the weekend, there were many personal highlights for Folger at the 2025 edition of what is arguably the most prestigious endurance race.

Jonas FOLGER (S-PULSE DREAM RACING, Suzuki GSX-R100R):

«My first time in Suzuka was an incredible experience for me, I am thrilled. I am very happy that I took on this challenge and I think I did well. The race itself is unlike anything else. Even though the efforts and stresses are almost inhuman, I really enjoyed it. It was only about an hour before the start of the race that the team told me I would be the starting rider. That almost knocked me off my chair and made me even more excited, as I had never done or practiced a «Le Mans» start before. In fact, I almost messed it up completely because I focused a little too much on the riders next to me and my mechanics at my bike instead of paying attention to the starter and his flag signal. As a result, I ran to the motorcycle a few moments later than the others.»

«After a few laps, I found a good rhythm and was able to ride freely in the large pack. I quickly caught up with the riders in front of me and started to overtake. Unfortunately, a mistake threw me back again. That was a shame, because instead of handing over the bike in 15th place, we were just outside the top 20. The detour through the gravel trap was the only thing in the first stint that I am still annoyed about. Before the race, I heard from many people that the first stint was the worst. That is how I felt afterwards, too. I had no idea how I was going to manage the second stint. In fact, it turned out to be much easier for me. Unfortunately, Sodo crashed later on when we were already in ninth place in the top ten. He was able to continue but still came into the pits because the brakes were overheated and had to be changed. After resuming his stint, he crashed a second time. That caused quite a lot of damage to the bike. The repairs took a good three hours.»

«Despite the hopeless situation, as there was no chance of making it into the rankings, we continued our race. This was mainly in honour to Hideyuki, the team’s owner, who retired as a racer on Sunday. In his last race, he wanted to see his motorcycle crossing the finish line. And I was given this honour, as I did the last stint. But that was not the only reason why Suzuka was such a great experience for me. I had a lot of fun, and it motivated me even more to want to be there again. I am also grateful that I was allowed to be the last rider, because it gave me my first experience of riding in the dark, which was also very exciting for me. In any case, next year I will use the pre-event tests as training if I have the opportunity to participate in this legendary eight-hour race again. Unfortunately, I did not have time for that this year and that meant I was missing a few days and many laps. But now I know the track and the conditions you have to cope with here. I would like to thank the entire team, who are committed with heart and soul and always show incredible dedication. They worked on the motorcycle for three hours to get it back on the road. Ultimately, it was a very nice weekend that I enjoyed. So, a big thank you to Hideyuki and the entire team, who are like a family, and also to KTM for their support in this regard allowing me to take part.»

#2025Suzuka8Hours: Rennergebnis
1 Honda HRC (Takumi TAKAHASHI, Johann ZARCO) / Honda CBR1000 RR-R-SP / 08´00´26.580
2 YAMAHA RACING TEAM (Katsuyuki NAKSUGA, Jack MILLER, Andrea LOCATELLI) / Yamaha YZF R1 / +34.243
3 Yoshimura SERT MOTUL (Gregg BLACK, Dan LINFOOT, Cocoro ATSUMI) / Suzuki -R1000R / 1 Laps
…
NC S-PULSE DREAM RACING (Hideyuki OGATA, Jonas FOLGER, Sodo HAMAHARA) / Suzuki / 60 Laps

Der Beitrag #Suzuka8Hours: An incredible experience, simply unforgettable! erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.

After a day of rest on Thursday, on which many administrative tasks had to be completed, the 2025 edition of the legendary eight-hour race in Suzuka featured a free practice session on Friday and qualifying practices later in the afternoon. In two timed sessions per group (blue, yellow, red), the ranking was determined based on the average time of the individual teams.

Jonas Folger finished in P14 in QP1 but improved by no less than seven tenths of a second in his second time attack later in the afternoon, which meant tenth place in his group with a respectable 2’07.033. The team around Folger and his Japanese team mates Hideyuki Ogata and Sodo Hamahara finished 15th overall.

During night practice, which took place on Friday evening from 18:30 to 19:30, Folger was unlucky when he tried to get his first laps in Suzuka at sunset under his belt. A large oil spoil after an engine failure was the cause. Folger and his team therefore only have a one-hour free practice session on Saturday afternoon to put the finishing touches to the long race on Sunday.

Jonas FOLGER (S-PULSE DREAM RACING, Suzuki GSX-R100R):

«I am really happy with my performance on Friday. To be honest, however, I am amazed about the speed of the riders from the top ten teams. Respect, that is really something amazing. My fastest lap time was 2´07.0. In this lap, however, I was close to my limit. But if you look at the lap times of the guys with more Suzuka experience and perhaps a slightly better set-up, which are almost two seconds faster than mine, then I have to say that is really strong. But it is nice to see and spurs you on. On the other hand, we gathered valuable information from the three sessions today and then racked our brains again to see how we can hopefully find another good half a second on Saturday. That would be ideal. Apart from that, I think we should actually be in a good shape in terms of race pace. Finally, I would like to mention that I am having an incredible amount of fun here. The track is really tricky. There are sections where up to five or six corners are linked together and the track is also very narrow. So you have to ride very precisely, but that is what makes it so appealing. I am already looking forward to the race on Sunday – my first one in endurance racing here in Suzuka, wow!»

Jonas FOLGER´s Profile:
Age: 31 (Date of birth 13 August 1993)
Occupation: Test rider in two-wheels racing
Residence: Mühldorf am Inn (Bavaria, Germany)
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Bike: Suzuki GSX-R1000R
Racing No: 95

#2025Suzuka8Hours: Overall Qualifying Ranking (Avg. Best Time)
1 Honda HRC (Takumi TAKAHASHI, Johann ZARCO) / Honda / 2´05.187
2 AutoRace Ube Racing Team (Naomichi URAMOTO, Loris BAZ, Davy TODD) / BMW / 2´05.346
3 YAMAHA RACING TEAM (Katsuyuki NAKSUGA, Jack MILLER, Andrea LOCATELLI) / Yamaha / 2´05.539
…
15 S-PULSE DREAM RACING (Hideyuki OGATA, Jonas FOLGER, Sodo HAMAHARA) / Suzuki / 2´07.102

#2025Suzuka8Hours: Time Schedule (CEST)
Friday 1 August: 01:30 - 03:30 Free Practice
Friday 1 August: 05:00 - 05:20 Official Qualifying Session 1 Rider BLUE
Friday 1 August: 05:35 - 05:55 Official Qualifying Session 1 Rider YELLOW
Friday 1 August: 06:10 - 06:30 Official Qualifying Session 1 Rider RED
Friday 1 August: 08:30 - 08:50 Official Qualifying Session 2 Rider BLUE
Friday 1 August: 09:05 - 09:25 Official Qualifying Session 2 Rider YELLOW
Friday 1 August: 09:40 - 10:00 Official Qualifying Session 2 Rider RED
Friday 1 August: 11:30 – 12:30 Night Practice
Saturday 2 August: 07:15 - 08:00 Free Practice
Saturday 2 August: 08:30 - 09:00 «Top 10 Trail»
Sunday 3 August: 01:30 - 02:15 Warm Up
Sunday 3 August: 03:40 Race Starting Procedure
Sunday 3 August: 04:30 - 12:30 Race

Der Beitrag #2025Suzuka8Hours: Happy and enjoying the time in hot and humid Japan erschien zuerst auf Jonas Folger.