Winning his first MotoGP at Silverstone just over a week ago propelled Jonas Folger into second place in the 125cc world championship standings. Peter Clifford spoke to the 17-year-old rider ahead of this weekend's race in Assen.
“I really didn't expect it," Jonas Folger said after taking the chequered flag at the British Grand Prix. "Of course it is every rider's dream to win a GP, but I didn't expect to win and certainly not like that, so far in front of most of the other riders. It was a great day.”
He won in terribly wet conditions that saw many of the key opposition slide out of contention or finish a long way behind the 17-year-old German on the Red Bull Ajo Motorsport Aprilia. “It was a great result for the Championship and very motivating for me. I know that we have to work hard to get better results and not just win in the rain.”
“I know a lot of it is down to me, to communicate better with the team and explain what I need. We must have the bike working well on a dry track and then the results will come. After Silverstone I went to Finland with team owner Aki Ajo. That is home for the team and we had a great time and also did a lot of talking so that we are better connected and better understand each other.”
'I know that we have to work hard to get better results and not just win in the rain'
“I also went mountain biking with his son Niklas and we also did some motocross and supermotard. It was great to get back into training again because I had really been missing it. I didn't train for three-and-a-half weeks because I had a nasty lung infection and that was still effecting me in Silverstone, I still felt terrible on Friday and Saturday and only started to feel better on Sunday at the end of the medication I was taking.”
“So I am still not strong, not 100% like I was at the beginning of the year and I have to work on that as well,” concluded Jonas, who is obviously filled with a new sense of direction and purpose following his fantastic win at the British Grand Prix.
He is not yet talking about a World Championship win but certainly has his eyes fixed on more good results. “We just have to focus on getting the bike to work better for me in the dry and looking to get on the podium every weekend. Then we will see.”
As for this weekend's race in Assen and the weather forecast that predicts a wet Dutch Grand Prix, Jonas is happy to take whatever comes. “I don't mind, I like racing wet or dry. There are some riders who just hate the rain. For me it is no problem, if we have the bike working well in the dry that is also great for me.”
GEPA Pictures/Gold & Goose/Patrik Lundin
GEPA Pictures/Gold & Goose/Patrik Lundin
Want more?
- Jonas Folger official website (German)
- The official MotoGP website
- Jonas Folger profile on redbull.com
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