Jonas Folger was rewarded with a point on Saturday after a strong final phase in the first main race of the weekend.

Jonas Folger had imagined his debut race at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve to be different. Steady improvements during free practice sessions gave justified reason. In FP3 on Saturday morning, the BMW rider increased again by 0.626 seconds and screwed his lap time down to a 1’42.695. Folger thus moved up to 15th place in the combined practice times.

In Superpole, which decided the starting grid, Folger and his Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance team were unable to repeat their strong practice performances. Folger could not go beyond a 1’43.264, which meant only 19th spot on the grid in the top-class Superbike field. At the start of the first main race in the early afternoon in good conditions, he initially dropped down to 21st place, but was able to gradually made up ground again.

Towards the end of the race, Folger found a better rhythm and in doing so, he quickly caught up with the rider in front of him, whom he overtook on the last lap to finish 15th and score points in a Saturday race for the third time this season. Now the ambitious Bavarian wants to find further improvements for Sunday together with his crew.

 

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

Grid position 19th / Race 1: P15

“After the relatively pleasing start to the weekend at this incredibly difficult track, I had slight hopes of doing better today. But both Superpole and the race were really troublesome. In our time attack we did not manage to make the qualifier tyre for working better, or at least we could not get the advantages it normally brings. In FP3 I was half a second faster than in qualifying. That is incomprehensible for me. In the race I therefore had to start from the seventh row.”

“After another unusable start, I was just trailing behind for a long time. I was also never able to build up any feeling for the grip on the rear tyre and also not for the front. There was not one place over the course of a lap where I did not have to struggle. So, the race was no joy. That was a great pity because this track is incredibly fun to ride. In the end I was able to score a point because we benefited from some retirements. But overall, unfortunately, it was disappointing from start to finish. Hopefully we can change the situation by Sunday so I can enjoy my last race day in the World Superbike Championship for the time being a bit more.”

 

#PRTWorldSBK - Superpole:

1 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / 1´40.219

2 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR / 1´40.524 +0.305

3 Leon HASLAM / GBR / Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R / 1´40.780 +0.561

19 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Bonovo Action MGM Racing Performance / BMW M 1000 RR / 1´43.264 +3.045

 

#PRTWorldSBK - Race 1 (20 Laps):

1 Toprak AZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / 34´01.250

2 Scott REDDING / GBR / Aruba.it - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R / +0.691

3 Loris BAZ / FRA / Team GoEleven / Ducati Panigale V4 R / +10.628

15 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / Bonovo Action MGM Racing Performance / BMW M 1000 RR / +52.815

 

WorldSBK Standing:

1 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Yamaha / 474

2 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki / 429

3 Scott REDDING / GBR / Ducati / 395

21 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / BMW / 20

 

#PRTWorldSBK – Time Schedule for Sunday October 3rd (CET):

10:00 - 10:15 Warm-Up

12:00 Superpole-Race (10 Laps - 45.920km)

15:00 Race 2 (20 Laps - 91.840 km)

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