Who is Jonas Folger: A forgotten man returns to MotoGP

May 8, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

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When Tech3 decided to replace the injured Maverick Vinales with Jonas Folger for this weekend's French Grand Prix, the news came as something of a surprise for a man who might have been forgiven for thinking he had long since ridden his last race at this level.

At 32, Folger will be among the veterans on the grid at Le Mans. Only Marc Marquez, 33, and home hero Johann Zarco, 35, are older. So this outing opens an unexpected third chapter in a MotoGP career characterised by long intervals.

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The German's story in the premier class began as long ago as 2017, but there is a thread to that past: Tech3. Although it was running Yamahas back then, the French team was his employer in his rookie season.

Folger registered several top-10 starts and finishes that year, but really hit the headlines with a second place in his home grand prix at the Sachsenring. Sadly, however, he fell victim to illness and his season ended after the Aragon race, his 13th. With 84 points in the bag, he was nonetheless able to claim 10th in the championship.

Disregarding a couple of tests, it was 2023 before Folger would get another opportunity at the highest level. His old boss Herve Poncharal came calling after Pol Espargaro was injured at the season-opening Portuguese Grand Prix. Folger returned to the circus two rounds later, at the Americas GP.

Now provided with a KTM to ride, he achieved little of note in the six races in which he subbed for Espargaro. Nine points somewhat masked the fact that he mostly propped up the field aboard the RC16.

Neatly, it was another injury to Espargaro that earned Folger this latest call from his one and only MotoGP team. The Spanish rider would normally have been first in line to replace regular man Vinales, but injured himself in a dirt track accident - opening the path for Folger to write chapter three of his MotoGP career.

Folger led at home in 2017 before ceding to Marc Marquez (World Copyright: Gareth Harford/LAT Images ref: Digital Image 682333)

"I was not prepared, let's put it that way!" he said of the surprise call-up from Tech3, which is now headed by Guenther Steiner instead of Poncharal. "I was testing for a different project for KTM at Most [in the Czech Republic]. And in the morning I got a call from KTM and they explained the situation to me. I said, 'OK, well, I can do it.'

"It's always a pleasure for me to step into the MotoGP paddock. Especially for the Tech3 guys, who are really close friends of mine. And yes, the decision was made pretty fast."

Folger has had the chance to test the KTM, earlier this week at Mugello. But that represented minimal preparation, particularly as rain affected much of the running.

Given his age and the fact that slotting into MotoGP race action without extensive preparation has become increasingly difficult, Folger is under no illusions about the challenge - although factory rider Brad Binder provided a vote of confidence on Thursday, saying "you never forget how to ride."

"Yeah, I mean, that's true, yes," said Folger when told of the Binder quote. "But the pace that [the top riders] have and the rhythm at that level, after so many years - that will be the issue.

"But anyway, I'm here to replace Maverick. First of all, I wish Maverick a quick recovery. He's a great guy, great rider.

"So the goal for me is to take his bike, to not do anything crazy; to adapt to the new bike. Many things have changed since three years ago, when I was on the bike last time. So it's going to be a hell of a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it and I will try to enjoy it."

Whether Folger gets another outing at next weekend's Catalan Grand Prix is still open to question, as both Vinales and Espargaro battle to recover from their respective injuries.

Additional reporting by Vincent Lalanne-Sicaud

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