Jonas Folger is struggling to get going in England and is tirelessly looking for solutions with his Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance team.
After a mixed start to round four of this year’s WorldSBK series at Donington Park, Jonas Folger experienced a difficult Saturday, which was further affected by changeable weather conditions.
On a wet track Folger had to work hard again during this morning’s FP3 to find a decent feeling aboard his BMW M 1000 RR for the challenging circuit in the British Midlands. However, a harmless crash put the brakes on this process. Thanks to the quick efforts of his crew, he was able to continue the session in the final minutes. But the 27-year-old rider also struggled with a lack of confidence in the rainy Superpole later this morning, and therefore he had to start the first race in the afternoon from seventh row.
Even before the start of the first race, the track started to dry out, so that the majority of the World Superbike Championship entries opted for slicks at the latest on the grid, although the race was declared as «Wet Race». Folger wanted to gradually build up a feeling and confidence again during the 23-lap race. After slowly improving his lap times, difficulties with the gearshift caused him to retire prematurely in the final stage.
Despite these setbacks, Folger would like to conclude the British round with a sense of achievement in Sunday’s races.
#94 Jonas FOLGER (Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance, BMW M 1000 RR)
Grid position 20th / Race 1: NC
“In general, it is difficult to say anything about today. The change in weather along with the changing conditions throughout the day did not make things any easier and the crash in the morning may have had a bit of an effect on confidence. Still, it is beyond me why I did not feel comfortable at all and could not ride the way I wanted to. So, I am a bit perplexed at the moment, that is all there is to it. Hopefully, things will change a bit by tomorrow so that it will at least be slightly uphill going again.”
#GBRWorldSBK - Superpole:
1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR / 1´40.101
2 Michael VAN DER MARK / NED / BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR / 1´40.626 +0.525
3 Tom SYKES / GBR / BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR / 1´40.763 +0.662
20 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Bonovo Action MGM Racing Performance / BMW M 1000 RR / 1´46.660 +6.559
#GBRWorldSBK - Race 1 (23 Laps):
1 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / 34´36.377
2 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR / +2.419
3 Alex LOWES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR / +12.261
NC #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Bonovo Action MGM Racing Performance / BMW M 1000 RR
#WorldSBK Standing:
1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki / 169
2 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Yamaha / 154
3 Scott REDDING / GBR / Ducati / 104
18 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / BMW / 8
#GBRWorldSBK - Time Schedule for Sunday July 4th (CET):
10:00 - 10:15 Warm-Up
12:00 Superpole-Race (10 Laps - 40.230 km)
15:00 Race 2 (23 Laps - 92.529 km)
