GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 are counting the days until Pol Espargaro is ready to return to his RC16 but in the meantime, and from the Grand Prix of the Americas at COTA in mid-April, the team and brand will count on the speed and experience of former MotoGP podium finisher Jonas Folger.
The 29-year-old German will make his first MotoGP appearance since 2017 and since stepping into the role as an official test rider. Jonas previously represented the Tech3 setup – scoring a thrilling runner-up result at his home Grand Prix – so knows the crew and the culture.
Jonas Folger
Pol Espargaro travelled back to Barcelona last weekend where he had surgery on his jaw. The procedure was performed on Tuesday at the Dexeus Hospital. He’ll remain under observation for a couple of days and is hopeful of being home soon when he’ll be able to step-up his physiotherapy and define a timeframe to get back in the saddle.
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 are contesting this weekend’s Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina with Augusto Fernandez.
Jonas Folger
“First of all I really hope Pol is doing well and getting back on his feet as soon as possible. I’m sure he has the right people around him. From my side I’m looking forward to racing again and arriving to Texas to see all the guys from my old team! I hope we can do a decent job and I know it will be a big challenge for me since testing has only just started. However, this will be a great opportunity to get up to speed and learn more about the bike. I’m thankful and now looking to Texas.”
Jonas Folger tested with KTM at Sepang in February
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager
“It’s clear Pol needs time to make a full recovery and our thoughts are still with him and we are in contact all the time. Until he is ready though Jonas’ testing role together with his recent MotoGP experience meant he is the perfect fill-in. We had some good memories with him a few years ago and he tested with us in Sepang this pre-season. He’s a great guy and we’re delighted to welcome him back.”
The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team will expand its involvement in 2022 and run two BMW M 1000 RR motorcycles in the series. In the saddle will be two well-known WorldSBK riders: Eugene Laverty (IRL) and Loris Baz (FRA).
35-year-old BMW works rider Laverty has been racing in WorldSBK since 2011 and enters his third season with BMW Motorrad Motorsport in 2022.
Eugene Laverty
“I’m very happy to continue with BMW Motorrad and join the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team for the 2022 World Superbike season. It is fantastic to remain in the BMW WorldSBK family. The past six months have been tough for me as a rider and so I’m very grateful for the continued support and belief from everyone involved in this project. I’m very motivated to repay that faith in my abilities and I feel confident that following a solid winter testing campaign we can arrive ready and competitive at round one.”
Eugene Laverty
Baz also comes with plenty of WorldSBK experience: The 28-year-old Frenchman rode a BMW S 1000 RR in WorldSBK in 2018 and made his Superbike World Championship debut in 2012 and started in the series for three years, before switching to MotoGP from 2015 to 2017. He then returned to WorldSBK. In the 2021 season, Baz has been riding in MotoAmerica but has also impressed on a number of outings in WorldSBK. His WorldSBK record to date: two wins and 20 podiums. Baz will now be a BMW works rider in the 2022 season.
Loris Baz
“I am really happy to be back in WorldSBK so I want to thank BMW and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team for giving me this opportunity. I think that I have shown during these two rounds in Spain and Portugal that I have the pace to fight at the front in this championship. BMW is the brand that grew the most in the second part of the season. I have closely watched how the bike was improving. I have been racing with BMW before so I know a lot of people there and also, I have been competing with MGM Racing for one race back in 2012. I am really happy and really excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to trying the bike and to starting to work together with the team and BMW. Thanks again to all the people involved in this project.”
Loris Baz
Jonas Folger (GER), who lined up in WorldSBK with the Bonovo MGM Racing team in 2021, will be looking for a new challenge after what has been a difficult season for him. The cooperation in the WorldSBK has been terminated by mutual consent.
Marc Bongers – BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director
“The course is set for a successful second season together for BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in the WorldSBK. The team and we have gained a lot of experience in the first year of our cooperation, and that now forms the basis as we continue to move forward together. The two riders starting for the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team also underline our ambition. We are very pleased that Eugene Laverty remains a part of the BMW works rider family and lines up with us in his third season. Although the 2021 season was not always easy for him, he showed a lot of fight and was very committed to our project. At the same time, we are pleased to have Loris Baz on board. Having spent a season on the BMW S 1000 RR in 2018, he is now part of the BMW works rider family. Loris has more than impressed on his WorldSBK outings this season. We are confident that, with their skill and experience, Eugene and Loris will help move the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team forward. We would like to thank Jonas Folger. It is a shame that his debut season in WorldSBK did not play out as we were all hoping. However, he and the team never gave up and always worked hard. We are very grateful to him for that tireless commitment.”
Jürgen Röder – Team Owner Bonovo action BMW Racing Team
“I am overjoyed that we are heading into the next year as a strong BMW Team and that two top riders like Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz will be in the saddle of the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team bikes. The goal is for the two BMW teams to cooperate even more closely. It is great for us to have two strong riders on board. Particularly Eugene, who has been on the BMW for a few years, is an extremely analytical rider, and provides feedback that can be excellently incorporated in the further development of the bike. He knows all the structures at BMW, and who he needs to contact and when, and is obviously a great addition to the team. I think 28-year-old Loris is a great young rider. We have seen what he is capable of. He has done well in MotoAmerica, has returned to World Superbike and has achieved some very impressive results. It is a real godsend for me to have someone like him in our team. I think we have a real chance of consistently finishing in the top ten with both riders next season. That is obviously a real asset for the whole BMW family. At this point, I would like to thank Dr. Markus Schramm and Marc Bongers again for integrating us so closely in the BMW structure. We will do everything we can to live up to this privilege that has been bestowed upon us. At the same time, I would like to thank Jonas Folger for his commitment. He showed great character when came to me and said that he would not be able to add anything to the team in 2022, and that he would not be taking up my option of continuing together in WorldSBK. I find that incredibly impressive. We still have a very good relationship, and that will remain the case.”
Michael Galinski – Team Manager Bonovo action BMW Racing Team
“We are pleased to be able to take this step together with Jürgen Röder, and are very proud of our two riders. In Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz we have two excellent riders. Loris has started in many classes, such as MotoGP and Superbikes, on many different manufacturers’ bikes, including BMW and Yamaha. He recently showed what he is capable of at the race in Portugal: two third places as a reserve rider is no mean feat. We are very pleased to have him on board. Eugene has been slightly below par this year, as he was unable to ride for a long time. He is a great development rider and will help us to develop the bike together with BMW. All in all, we are now on equal footing with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. They also have two tall riders on the bike, in Michael van der Mark and Scott Redding. Loris, as the third tall guy, will be able to contribute to the development in this regard. Eugene is not quite as tall, but nevertheless we are all moving in the same direction together. We are looking forward to the coming season!”
Jonas Folger will ride for the Petronas Sprinta Racing Team as the stand-in for the injured Khairul Idham Pawi for the next three rounds of the Moto2 World Championship, as the Malaysian rider continues to recover from injuries sustained at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Jonas Folger back in 2017
The 25-year-old German will race for the squad at next weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix as well as the Dutch GP and his home race at the Sachsenring. Folger directly replaces Mattia Pasini, who raced as a stand-in for the team in Le Mans and Mugello, but who broke his collarbone in a motocross accident following the Italian GP.
Folger has an impressive track record in Grand Prix racing, winning five races and taking 24 podiums, including three wins in the middleweight class. He also has considerable experience with the Triumph-powered Kalex Moto2 bike thanks to his role as the lead development rider for the project during its early stages.
Jonas Folger
“I’m really excited to get the chance to be competing again. I can’t wait to get back on a bike and get that racing feeling. Petronas Sprinta Racing are an exceptionally professional team in all three categories and I know some of the crew in the Moto2 squad from the past. I’m looking forward to working with them again, especially as I have some good friends there. I have positive memories of Barcelona as I’ve been on the podium and put in some fast laps there in the past. It’s actually one of my favourite tracks and it suits my riding style well. The Kalex is a really fun bike to ride because the riding style is very similar to what you use in MotoGP. The Triumph engine feels closer to a MotoGP bike, it suits me and I didn’t do badly in testing, so I can’t wait to get going again on it!”
Jonas Folger testing in Valencia
The Catalan Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 14-16 will mark Folger’s first race action since the end of 2017, but he has enjoyed recent track action through his role as Yamaha’s MotoGP test rider.
Khairul Idham Pawi is making good progress with the hand injuries sustained at Jerez and progressing in his journey to be race-fit later this season. Petronas Sprinta Racing would like to thank Mattia Pasini for his services deputising for KIP at the last two rounds of the championship and wish him a swift recovery.
Razlan Razali – Team Principal
“It is a fabulous opportunity for Petronas Sprinta Racing to engage a rider of the calibre of Jonas Folger for the next three Moto2 races. He will bring an extra element to the team and help push our Moto2 programme along in anticipation of Khairul Idham Pawi’s return later this season. We know that the experience of Jonas in MotoGP and with the Kalex will bring us good rewards. We want the team to be as strong as possible for KIP’s return as he has the best potential for a Malaysian rider in Moto2. We are working closely with KIP to ensure he returns to action at the right time.”
Khairul Idham Pawi continues recovering from injury
Johan Stigefelt – Team Director
“Jonas Folger is a great rider so this is a superb signing for us. Not only does Jonas have race-winning experience in Moto2, he also knows the latest Kalex very well having been the initial development rider with the Triumph engine. Jonas also has MotoGP experience so he can bring a long of insight to the team. The battle in Moto2 is very tight, but we know we have a lot of potential. It’s only beneficial for us to work with a rider like Jonas. We wish Mattia a rapid recovery from his collarbone injury.”
