#GBRWorldSBK: Confidence and «Back to the roots» in Donington

Thursday, July 1st, 2021

At this weekend’s round four of the season, Jonas Folger hopes to benefit from a positive test last week in Spain.

The meeting of the Superbike World Championship at the tradition steeped Donington Park circuit brings Jonas Folger back to a place where he competed last time as a World Championship rookie in the 125cc British Grand Prix 12 years ago. Although after some modifications nothing has changed to the track’s layout of that time, the 27-year-old German rider will find different conditions with the 1000cc BMW Superbike. Apart from that, the famous venue in the Midlands has its special place in the calendar of the FIM Superbike World Championship, as Donington Park is considered as the birthplace of the series. The first ever WorldSBK race was held there back in April 1988.

Folger and his German outfit Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance come to the fourth stop of the year from a private test the previous week at the Spanish Circuito de Navarra. Incidentally, Navarra makes its debut in the championship’s calendar later this August. For this test BMW has brought various enhancements for the still all-new M 1000 RR. After a first successful inventory, some of them are to pass their fiery test in race trim this weekend. Folger and his crew hope to make progress with it.

#94 Jonas FOLGER (Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance, BMW M 1000 RR):

“In the meantime, more than ten years have passed since I was at Donington last time. That was still pretty much at the beginning of my international career. I raced at Donington just once. After that, as you know, the British Grand Prix moved over to Silverstone. But as far as I can remember, Donington is a pretty cool track. The layout was very «old school» back then and is still supposed to be. There has been some rebuilding’s, but I think the track’s layout has remained the same. Besides, Donington has always been a classic event to the racing calendar since ever. So, I’m looking forward to my return there.”

“Last week’s Navarra test was an important date for us in many respects. It was not just about getting to know to the track because we also gathered many positive impressions. Now I hope that we can put this into practice in Donington, so that we can make significant progress and achieve the long-overdue improvement. I am already excited about what the weekend will bring and at the same time I am also looking forward to the demanding track at Donington, which requires some overcoming in some places.”

Jonas Folgers Profil:

Age: 24 (born on August 13th, 1993)

Occupation: Motorcycle racer

Residence: Mühldorf am Inn (Upper Bavaria, Germany)

Height: 177 cm

Weight: 69 kg

Bike: BMW M 1000 RR

Racing number: 94

Jonas FOLGERs Career:

2003: 50cc German Minibike Championship - Overall winner

2004: 50cc und 65cc German Minibike Championship - Overall winner

2005: 50cc und 65cc German Minibike Championship - Overall winner

2006: 125cc Spanish Championship - Overall third

2007: 125cc Spanish Championship - Overall P15

2008: 125cc Spanish Championship and first 125cc World Championship races in Czech Republic, San Marino (P15 - one point), Indianapolis, Japan, Malaysia and Valencia - Overall P34

2009: 125cc World Championship - Overall P12

2010: 125cc World Championship - Overall P14

2011: 125cc World Championship - Overall P6

2012: Moto3™ World Championship - Overall P9

2013: Moto3™ World Championship - Overall P5

2014: Moto2™ World Championship - Overall P15

2015: Moto2™ World Championship - Overall P6

2016: Moto2™ World Championship - Overall P7

2017 MotoGP™ World Championship - Overall P10

2019 Moto2™ World Championship (four races only)

2020 International German Superbike Championship - Champion (8/8 race victories)

#GBRWorldSBK - Time Schedule (CET):