Jonas Folger completed a second flawless weekend with the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team on Sunday at the Gran Premio de Espana in sunny and warm Andalusia.
Jonas Folger was not feeling well at the start of the main race at the season’s round four due to a lack of grip, so that the stop of the race after a crash in turn two was a good opportunity for him to make some changes to the set-up of his machine from Mattighofen in Austria for the restart of the race. When the lights went out again after a short interruption, the 28-year-old German rider got a good second start as he stayed close behind Spaniard Iker Lecuona and set his fastest race lap already on the third lap.
As the race progressed, he found his rhythm in the low to mid 1’40s and gained experience and information on the KTM RC16 for other upcoming events. Track conditions were difficult for the full-time test rider, who has temporarily returned to his old Tech3 team since the US Grand Prix, but he was able to finish the race successfully, taking seventeenth place.
Tomorrow, Monday, is an important test for Folger and his crew in GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 at the Circuito de Jerez.
#94 Jonas FOLGER (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, KTM RC16)
Grid position 22nd / Race: P17
“When the race started, I did not feel very good and had less grip. So, I was a little frustrated when I came back to the pits after the red flag. But we had the chance to discuss the problem with the team and find a quick solution. For the restart I used a different mapping to get a bit more grip and it was better. Conditions were really difficult because it was very hot again. So, it was difficult for me to set good lap times and get more used to the bike. Tomorrow will be an important day to see what we can do differently to make another step forward and to ride the bike better. Apart from a not easy race today, I am happy with my weekend. Thanks to everyone in the team for their work and support.”
#SpanishGP - MotoGP™ Race Classification (24 Laps):
1 Francesco BAGNAIA / ITA / Ducati Lenovo Team / Ducati / 39´29.085
2 Brad BINDER / RSA / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / KTM / +0.221
3 Jack MILLER / AUS / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / KTM / +1.119
17 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 / KTM / +47.146
MotoGP™ World Standing:
1 Francesco BAGNAIA / ITA / Ducati / 87
2 Marco BEZZECCHI / ITA / Ducati / 65
3 Brad BINDER / RSA / KTM / 62
22 #94 Jonas FOLGER / GER / KTM / 4
