After some uncertainty recently, Jonas Folger had an encouraging start to his home Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.
This season’s June festival with three Grand Prix at as many consecutive weekends continues these days with the Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. Jonas Folger and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 were hoping for a positive start to their fifth race weekend together after leaving Mugello last Sunday with mixed feelings. Friday had a lot to offer in terms of weather. Practice one was held in bright sunshine, with the second session in the afternoon under heavily overcast skies, so the MotoGP™ class performed a rain dance without having a wet session, despite some drops falling in the early afternoon.
For 29-year-old Jonas Folger, it’s a return to the Sachsenring aboard a MotoGP™ machine after 2017, but this time in the red colors of the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team. Another time replacing injured Pol Espargaro, Folger set his fastest lap this morning in a 1´22.818, and in the one hour-long second practice session the local hero continued to work, trying to find solutions to the various problems he has had in recent races. In his last attempt he was able to go slightly faster than before, but his fastest lap was cancelled because he had already passed the chequered flag. Folger and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech return to the track tomorrow with a Super Saturday waiting for the enthusiastic German fans.
The MotoGP™ action begins on Saturday morning at 10:10am local time with free practice, followed by the qualifying sessions. In the afternoon, the eleven-lap sprint is on the agenda. Starting time is scheduled for 3:00pm.
#94 Jonas FOLGER (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, KTM RC16)
P1: P20 - 1´22.818 (15/16) / P2: P19 - 1´22.905 (13/25)
“I am very happy with our first day at the Sachsenring. In the afternoon I set my fastest time on my last lap, but unfortunately, I had already passed the checkered flag, which I did not see. It was a 1´22 which was cancelled, however, but it gives me confidence because we have made a step and we have the potential to further improve tomorrow. Today there were many crashes, so tomorrow it will be important to be careful and finish the sprint.”
#GermanGP - MotoGP™ Combined Practice Times (P1/P2):
1 Marco BEZZECCHI / ITA / Mooney VR46 Racing Team / Ducati / 1´20.271 (P2)
2 Jorge MARTIN / SPA / Prima Pramac Racing / Ducati / 1´20.311 +0.040 (P2)
3 Aleix ESPARGARO / SPA / Aprilia Racing / Aprilia / 1´20.352 +0.081 (P2)
20 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 / KTM / 1´20.905 +2.547 (P1)
#GermanGP - MotoGP™ Time Schedule for Saturday June 17th (CEST):
10:10 - 10:40 FP
10:50 - 11:05 Q1
11:15 - 11:30 Q2
15:00 Sprint (15 Laps - 55.065 km)
