#PRTWorldSBK: Portimao rollercoaster ride to be a conciliatory end to season

Thursday, September 30th, 2021

For Jonas Folger, his Superbike World Championship chapter ends this weekend for the time being. Against the backdrop of the Corona situation, his Bonovo Action / MGM Racing Performance team is foregoing the overseas races in Argentina and Indonesia for safety reasons.

But before that, the 28-year-old professional motorcycle racer from Bavaria still has a daunting task to master. The hilly, 4.5 kilometres long circuit at the fantastic Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in the outback of the same named coastline in southern Portugal is one of the most selective circuit in the world. The track’s layout along one lap is peppered with many blind corners, where absolute confidence to the front is the be-all and end-all for fast lap times.

WorldSBK rookie Jonas Folger comes to the third-last stop of this year’s FIM Superbike World Championship as a newcomer to the track, which also marks the end of the exhausting triple-header of recent weeks though, the BMW rider is counting on his strength to quickly find his way around unfamiliar territory and he is therefore looking forward to his early end of the season with confidence.

Regarding the schedule, there is no change for this weekend. Nevertheless, the difference of one hour should be noted because all sessions will start one hour later in Central Europe time.

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

“Of course, it is a great pity that the season will come to an early end for me after this weekend. Especially after the two Jerez races, it hurts twice as much. Apart from that, I would have liked to race in oversea and get to know the tracks and the surroundings there. San Juan and Lombok would certainly have been interesting trips. But Mr. Röder’s decision, in consultation with the entire team, is to be respected at all times not to go to Argentina and Indonesia.”

“Therefore, Portimao this weekend hopefully will be my last race in the World Superbike Championship temporarily only. So far, I only know the track just from race footage and video games, but as to see there, it is super challenging. The track’s layout is incredibly varied and at some point, during my first track walk I stopped counting the blind corners. Really rad here. So, it is going to be exciting when things it kicks off on Friday morning.”

“But I am looking forward to this challenge and I also hope that we can take some of the momentum with us we got in Jerez recently. Last Sunday things went very well, especially towards the end of the race, as the feeling for the bike is gradually coming back. Unfortunately, it is over for us after this weekend though, I therefore hope, and I will give everything from my side, that it will be a conciliatory conclusion.”

Jonas Folgers Profil:

Alter: 27 (Geboren am 13. August 1993)

Beruf: Motorradrennfahrer

Wohnsitz: Mühldorf am Inn (Obb., Deutschland)

Grösse: 177 cm

Gewicht: 69 kg

Motorrad: BMW M 1000 RR

Startnummer: 94

Jonas FOLGERs Karriere:

2003: 50cc Deutsche Minibike Championship - Gesamtsieger

2004: 50cc und 65cc Deutsche Minibike Championship - Gesamtsieger

2005: 50cc und 65cc Deutsche Minibike Championship - Gesamtsieger

2006: 125cc Spanish Championship – Gesamtdritter

2007: 125cc Spanish Championship - Gesamt P15

2008: 125cc Spanish Championship und erste Rennen in 125ccm World Championship in Tschechien, San Marino (P15 - erster WM-Punkt), Indianapolis, Japan, Malaysia and Valencia - Gesamt P34

2009: 125cc World Championship - Gesamt P12

2010: 125cc World Championship - Gesamt P14

2011: 125cc World Championship - Gesamt P6

2012: Moto3™ World Championship - Gesamt P9

2013: Moto3™ World Championship - Gesamt P5

2014: Moto2™ World Championship - Gesamt P15

2015: Moto2™ World Championship - Gesamt P6

2016: Moto2™ World Championship - Gesamt P7

2017 MotoGP™ World Championship - Gesamt P10

2019 Moto2™ World Championship (nur vier Rennen)

2020 Internationale Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft IDM Superbike - Meister (8/8 Rennsiege)

#PTRWorldSBK - Zeitplan (MESZ):