Luck Evades Mapfre Aspar Team in Valencia Moto3 Race

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After much talk of rain over the entire weekend, in the end it was Sunday in which it had the most impact. It may not have fallen during the Moto3 race, but dampness an hour beforehand left the track wet for the course of the 24-lap contest. Jonas Folger had taken pole, but was unable to start from the top spot due to an electrical problem. Luis Salom made the first move in a race that was typically unpredictable. There were crashes and eleven retirements, before Danny Kent took the win by overtaking Sandro Cortese on the final lap. Khairuddin completed the podium, with Salom taking the runner-up spot from Viñales.

MAPFRE Aspar rider Jonas Folger took the fastest time in qualifying yesterday. He was also second in the warmup this morning, but was unable to take advantage of the placing after an unforeseen issue. The German experienced a mechanical problem on the formation lap and it was only due to the speedy work of the mechanics that he was able to take the start from pit lane –aiming for a comeback reminiscent of the las trace at Phillip Island. However, on lap seven he was forced to retire from the race.

Teammate Luca Amato also had difficulties, ufinishing the race but placing 22nd, thanks to his lack of feel for the wet Valencia track. ya que el alemán no ha encontrado sensaciones con el asfalto mojado y al final concluía en 22ª posición.

Jonas Folger (DNF): “We were very unlucky today, above all when you consider our incredible pace over the entire weekend. We had a mechanical issue on the formation lap, but these things happen. I just felt the bike cut out. It is a shame, because I felt strong even in the wet, and knew that I could fight for the win. I wanted to get a good result to dedicate to the team. I will be optimistic despite this, as I have had a positive time since arriving in the MAPFRE Aspar Team. This second half of the season has been fantastic, and fortunately we are together again next year. I intend to be just as strong in 2013.”

22th Luca Amato: “I am very angry with myself, because I didn’t manage to find my feeling all day; not in the warmup, nor in the race. I don’t know the reason for this, but I did notice that the wet tyres were sliding me around on every corner, almost as if I was using slicks. The conditions this weekend didn’t help us, as they changed in every session and made it tough to adapt. It is a pity to end the year like this, but I want to thank the team for everything that they’ve done for me.”

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Jonas Folger Aiming to Finish the Season on the Podium

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Resurfaced and ready for battle, the Circuito de la Comunidad Valenciana welcomes the final flourish in a fabulous first season of Moto3 racing this weekend. Only the German DTM car series has laid rubber on the new surface so far but their feedback was excellent and after a gruelling three week trip to Japan, Malaysia and Australia there could be no better place for the riders to travel to for the final round of the 2012 season. The Moto3 title has already been decided but that won't stop the riders in the minor category from battling for every inch of track until the final flag.

MAPFRE Aspar star Jonas Folger is amongst the favourites for one of the final three trophies of the season. Only a miscalculation on the start line in Australia, which was penalised by Race Direction with a ‘ride through’, prevented the German from adding to his growing collection but he is now doubly determined to do so this weekend at the home of the MAPFRE Aspar Team. For Luca Amato the final round of the campaign represents a welcome return to familiar territory after a challenging run of races at circuits he had never previously visited.

Jonas Folger: 

“I made a mistake in Australia that prevented me from fighting for the podium, which was a real shame. Anyway, we can be happy with our performances during the three flyaway races because we were consistently up front and I am sure we can be there again this weekend at Valencia. I learned a harsh lesson from the jump start and this Sunday I am ready to fight for the podium or the win again. I really like the Ricardo Tormo circuit, I have raced there lots of times especially in smaller championships. This year the track surface is new and I am curious to see what it's like. The objective is to put together the perfect weekend and fight for pole position on Saturday and for the win on Sunday. It will take a lot of focus.”

Luca Amato: 

“I had a good feeling on the bike in the last race. I struggled to adapt to the circuit over the weekend at Phillip Island but the situation improved on Sunday and we found a setting that should give us every confidence going into this weekend. At Valencia we will use this as a base setting and try to improve again. I know the circuit because I rode there a couple of years ago. I like the track, it is short and fun, so hopefully we can finish the season off with a good weekend.”

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Jonas Folger Just Misses Out on Top Ten Despite Penalty

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MAPFRE Aspar rider forced to take ride through after jumping start, returning to the track in 23rd and finishing 11th. Luca Amato suffers mechanical problem when enjoying best race to date

At 1pm local time at Phillip Island, the Moto3 riders took to the track to try and cap off a great weekend in the Australian GP. What followed was a strange race, in which Khairrudin was surprisingly dominant early on, ahead of a twelve-rider pack that refused to break up. A ride through penalty given to Folger, Moncayo, Salom and Miller on lap four took them out of the equation, but there were crashes, breakdowns and run offs before the end. Cortese escaped from Oliveira with two laps to go, winning from the Portuguese and local rider Sissis.

Sometimes the excitement of racing makes riders geta head of themselves, and that happened to Jonas Folger today. Second on the grid and a main candidate for the win at Phillip Island after a stellar weekend, the MAPFRE Aspar rider jumped the start in what will serve as a lesson for the future. Hit with a ride through penalty for his minimal movement, Folger had to come in a little way into the contest and rejoined the race in 23rd. He focused on moving up the order and eventually placed eleventh after a great fightback.

Luca Amato was also out of luck. The rookie for the team started from 28th and worked his way up the field, until he suffered an engine problem on lap eight when riding in sixteenth.  

11th Jonas Folger: “I made a small mistake off the start. I let off the clutch without realizing, but stopped the bike right away so that I didn’t go past the line. I didn’t know if I had incurred a penalty or not when the race started. I tried to push hard early on, and soon I saw my pit board saying that I had to take a ride through. I knew what it was for, but it was frustrating as I knew I could have been in the front group easily. We had configured the bike with riding as part of a group in mind, with all the slipstreaming that it entails, so later on my own it was tough on the straights. I pushed hard anyway and our times were similar to those of the leaders. I’ve never made that mistake before on the start, so today will be a lesson to not do it again.”

Luca Amato (DNF): “The warmup this morning went very well. I managed to ride a second faster than in qualifying. This morning we found a good setting, which allowed me to grow in confidence. I felt great, so finally I could enjoy riding. I was far back but was able to overtake plenty of riders. Unfortunately I had an engine issue and had to retire. In any case, looking on the positive side, I found a way to enjoy riding the bike and can eagerly await the next round.”

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Jonas Folger Ready to Fight from the Front Row

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As black clouds blew in from the ocean and threatened to wash out qualifying practice for the Moto3 class at Phillip Island there was an entertaining and open battle for pole position from the moment the session got underway this afternoon. By the halfway stage the new World Champion Sandro Cortese had risen to the top, closely followed by his compatriot Jonas Folger, and the German pair were the only riders able to break the 1'39 barrier as the rain finally came in the shape of a light drizzle. Several riders took to the track in the closing stages as the conditions dried but none were able to make an impact on the front row positions.

Second place was an identical qualifying result to last week at Sepang for MAPFRE Aspar rider Folger, who is keen to follow up with back-to-back podiums. After dominating free practice yesterday he showed race-winning pace this afternoon, clocking three laps in the 1'38s and two in the 1'39s within a total of just ten laps. Jonas finished the session just three tenths off pole and is widely fancied to put the MAPFRE Aspar Team colours on the podium again tomorrow. Luca Amato has far more modest ambitions as he continues to adapt to a category that is proving more difficult than he expected. Tomorrow he will start from 28th on the grid as he continues gathering experience in Moto3.

2nd Jonas Folger 1.38.727 (10 laps): “My feeling on the bike today was fantastic, like yesterday, and even though the conditions were different we have improved again. After working hard on the setting all weekend we went with what we knew we needed for a fast lap time this afternoon and we set a consistently quick pace. Sandro was fast too so I hope things are the same tomorrow so that I can follow him in the race. Taking into account the fact that there is another half a second back to the third fastest rider today I think the two of us could push and make a break. If the weather is kind I will be trying to get away from the first lap because our pace is strong and we need to try and impose it. We'll be fighting for the podium again and hopefully for the win.”

28th Luca Amato 1.43.029 (17 laps): “The final free practice this morning was quite positive and we took a big step forward. The setting we found was good and gave me good feedback. In the afternoon the conditions change and I lost a little confidence. I was struggling to find my reference points and that's a shame because the bike is fast and performing well but I just don't feel comfortable on it. Tomorrow we will work hard in warm-up to find the feeling I had this morning and hopefully I can have a better race.”

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Jonas Folger Destroys Final Two Sectors on his Final Lap

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If there is one thing predictable about the weather at Phillip Island it's its unpredictability and there was a traditional welcome for the paddock today as equal measures of cold, wind, rain and sunshine signalled the start of the Australian Grand Prix. Sandro Cortese completed his first laps as 2012 Moto3 World Champion and Maverick Viñales returned to action after his well-publicised walkout in Malaysia but it was MAPFRE Aspar rider Jonas Folger who stole the headlines with the fastest lap of the day.

After lapping third fastest this morning Folger went on to dominate in the afternoon, just as he did at Sepang a week ago, a best effort of 1'39.213 leaving Cortese and Viñales trailing. The German was particularly impressive through the final two sectors of the Phillip Island circuit and it was there that he made up the majority of his advantage when he secured the fastest time of the day on his fifteenth lap. His team-mate Luca Amato battled through the windy conditions as he tried his best to learn the circuit, gradually shaving three seconds off his lap time to stop the clock at 1'43.753.

1st Jonas Folger 1.39.213 (31 laps): 

“We have change the angle of the front suspension here, which is something we have wanted to try for a while. At first I wasn't keen but we tried to push the pace a bit more in the afternoon and my feeling was a lot better. The bike feels more stable and it is easier to get it turned. The lap times are good, I am happy and I can see we are on the right track so tomorrow we'll keep it going. The team did a great job today, we even had time to try two different exhausts and a different tyre compound but the biggest step was with the front end. We have started well so hopefully we can continue like this and fight for pole tomorrow.”

29th Luca Amato 1.43.753 (32 laps): 

“I honestly haven't enjoyed the circuit, it's too bumpy. This morning I focused on getting to know it and then tried to set the bike up. The wind made it even more difficult to stay on the right line and I was getting out of shape in every braking zone. The good thing is that we improved a lot from a 1'46 this morning to a 1'43 by the end. After a lot of work we have found a better set-up that gives me more stability. Tomorrow we have to keep working and I have to get used to the track.”

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Jonas Folger Targets Top Step at Phillip Island

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No matter that the layout of the Sepang circuit will be still etched on their minds, it is time to wipe the slate clean and start again for the Moto3 riders as they head south for a very different challenge this Friday. The Australian Grand Prix at the fast and flowing Phillip Island circuit is the sixteenth and penultimate round of the season for the minor category, which already has a new World Champion in Sandro Cortese thanks to his victory in Malaysia just a few days ago.

MAPFRE Aspar rider Jonas Folger has been one of the form men during the season run-in after signing for the Spanish outfit in August. He responded from a setback in Japan to return to podium form with a superb third place at Sepang, where he dominated for the majority of the weekend. That makes it four podiums from six races with the MAPFRE Aspar Team and the German youngster will look to extend that run in Australia this weekend. His young team-mate Luca Amato travels to another new circuit looking to build experience and confidence at World Championship level.

Jonas Folger: 

“This is a good time for me to be honest because I really like every track we are going to at the moment. Phillip Island is very special and doesn't compare to anywhere else. Every corner is different to any other corner in the world and it is always a great source of motivation for me to race there. I know it is a difficult and demanding track and you can't afford to lose concentration for a second but I am convinced we can come away with another good result. We took another step forward with the set-up in Malaysia and I feel even more comfortable with the bike than I did before. The objective for the weekend is to go out with the same mentality that has served us so well recently and make sure we prepare as best we can to be fighting for the win again on Sunday.”

Luca Amato: 

“I am going to be pushing 100% from the first minute on track this weekend. I am struggling to adapt to this level of competition but I am not giving up. I have to push harder to find my limits because it is clear this bike is capable of more. It will be a tough weekend because we have already been on the road for the past two weeks but I am ready for it. I only know Phillip Island from playing it on the games console but I think I will like it. I don't want to set any targets. All I know is that I am going to give my best and and we'll see what happens.”

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Jonas Folger Returns to Podium at Sepang

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Owing to the time difference (GMT +8 in Malaysia), the Malaysian Grand Prix races were delayed two hours from the usual schedule. The Moto3 race started at 1pm, under conditions more extreme than during the rest of the weekend. The heat was increased, causing the race pace to be slower than qualifying (pole lap: 2.13.885/race fastest lap:  2.15.142). Jonas Folger pushed hard early on, breaking out a five-rider leading pack that would later be reduced to three (Folger, Khairuddin and Cortese). With nine laps remaining, drizzle fell but the riders kept up their pace. Cortese claimed the victory and became the first Moto3 World Champion as a result, followed home by Khairuddin and Folger.

MAPFRE Aspar rider Jonas Folger’s strategy today was quite clear. Pushing from the start, he wanted to see if his rivals could keep up with his pace. First five, then three, riders were out in front, the German setting the rhythm. He dominated the first ten laps, then fought to the end for the win –eventually finishing third. That put the Japanese GP behind him, gave him his fourth podium in six races with the team and continued his stellar end to the campaign.

Teammate Luca Amato, who started in 30th position, managed to climb to 24th despite suffering from a lack of grip from almost the beginning of the race.

In honour of Ginés Guirado, a friend of the Aspar Team and the entire paddock who passed away yesterday: “The Aspar family will always hold you in our hearts. Thank you for all our time together. RIP”

3rd Jonas Folger: 

“Today we had a very tough race. Although the pack split from the start and we were a small group at the head of the race, it was hard to ride in the heat. The asphalt had changed a lot and the tyres didn’t have the same grip as during the rest of the weekend. We also had to adjust our setup to the heat. I think that we should be very happy with our performance this weekend. After dominating practice and qualifying second, my aim was to win. We lead the group, were very competitive and finished third after a very tight race, which is reason enough to be satisfied. Since I joined the MAPFRE Aspar Team we have shown great form and there are still two races remaining, so we have to continue like this until the end of the season.”  

24th Luca Amato: 

“The race today was very hard, and dragged on for me because of the heat. On the opening three laps I was able to overtake various riders. Afterwards, I noticed that the bike was continually trying to throw me off. I think that it was down to the rear suspension being slightly too soft. Lap after lap I saw the bike step out more and more, which would also have affected tyre performance. Every time that I got on the gas, I felt like I was being thrown off. I rode alone in 24th, concentrating on avoiding crashes and riding steadily to the line. The bike has great potential and I am going to try and find a better feel for it, to improve my pace in the class.”

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Jonas Folger Makes a Strong Start at Sepang

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Just five days after rubbing shoulders for the race win in Japan the Moto3 riders were back on track several thousand kilometres away today as the first free practice sessions for the Malaysian Grand Prix took place at the Sepang circuit, where as well as dealing with the physical fatigue of their travels the riders also had to contend with 35ºC temperatures and 60% humidity. The day started with the surprise absence of Maverick Viñales following a split with his team and it ended with another storm as the heavens opened for the final few minutes of the afternoon session for the minor category.

MAPFRE Aspar rider Jonas Folger proved that he has moved on from the racing incident that ruled him out of the running for victory at Motegi with a dominant performance today, leading both free practice sessions. Sepang is one of his favourite circuits and he is already threatening to break the 2'15 barrier on the Moto3 bike, clocking an impressive best effort of 2'15.038 this afternoon. Luca Amato faced the daunting challenge of finding his way around this vast circuit on his first visit here, ending the day with the 28th fastest time.

1st Jonas Folger 2.15.038 (23 laps): 

“I am very happy because we have done a great job with the set-up today. Thanks to that I feel really comfortable on the bike and once again we have taken another step forward – not just on race day but also in practice now too. Tomorrow we will continue working in the same way and try to keep improving so that we can build on the performance from Japan. It is a shame that it rained for the last ten minutes because I think we could have improved our lap times much further. In any case we have started this round well and that gives us extra motivation for tomorrow.”

28th Luca Amato 2.18.687 (25 vueltas): 

“Sepang is enormous – it is the first time I have ever ridden somewhere so huge. Some parts are tricky but I like it. The first session was a bit strange because I was trying to memorize the track and find some reference points but it was so difficult. In the afternoon we kept working at it and little by little I was able to get a feel for the place. We lost ten minutes at the end because of the rain, which was a shame because I was starting to find some pace. Hopefully we can pick up where we left off tomorrow and adapt to this track as quickly as possible.”

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Jonas Folger hoping to maintain form and bounce back from Motegi disappointment

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Just two days on from the Grand Prix of Japan it is already consigned to the history books and the MotoGP paddock has its focus firmly set on the next round in the championship this weekend at Sepang. The fifteenth round of the Moto3 season takes place around the palm-tree lined 5.548km Malaysian circuit, where the intense tropical heat tests the riders to the limit. Four practice sessions of intense hard work awaits as the teams do their best to adapt the machines to the high demands of the circuit and the conditions. Sandro Cortese edged closer to being crowned World Champion in Japan and unless there is a huge surprise the Moto3 title looks certain to be the first to be decided. 

MAPFRE Aspar rider Jonas Folger came within a single lap of continuing his incredible start to life with the team at Motegi. Only a racing incident caused by another rider denied Jonas from a seemingly certain podium but his thoughts have already turned away from that and onto his next challenge this weekend. If he can maintain his stunning recent form then there is no reason why the German can't return to the podium this Sunday at one of his favourite circuits. Team rookie Luca Amato, meanwhile, will purely be focusing on speeding up his adaptation to Grand Prix competition.

Jonas Folger: 

“We were really unlucky last weekend because we could have won the race but instead we finished up in the gravel. Even so I want to remain optimistic and carry on the good form we showed in Japan. We performed to a very high level there and I hope we can continue to do so this weekend in Malaysia. Sepang is one of my favourite circuits so I can't wait to arrive and get back to work. I just know it is going to be another good weekend for us and I am going to work hard to be fighting for the win again on Sunday. I just hope we have a bit more luck on our side this weekend so that we can put the disappointment from Japan behind us.”

Luca Amato: 

“We struggled to get on the pace at Motegi. Everything is still very new to me and I am still adapting although I didn't think it would take me this long. The Kalex/KTM package is working perfectly but I don't feel comfortable on it yet so in Malaysia we will be working against the clock to get as many laps in as possible and to get a feeling for the bike. It will be my first visit to Sepang but I must have done a thousand laps there on the games console. It looks like it will be a difficult track but I think I'll like it. I will work as hard as necessary from Friday morning to get used to this bike and this category.”

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Jonas Folger Robbed of Victory by Another Rider

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The Moto3 race at Motegi broke from the established script, right at the end. Folger and Kent set the early pace, but rivals Cortese, Viñales and Salom strangely lacked a consistent pace. The pole lap had been 1’58.37, but nobody was able to go round in under 1’59 in the race itself. Folger led the way as the series leaders joined in the fight at the midway point, but it all led to an unforgettable final lap: On the opening corner, Salom pushed above his capabilities and threw away both his and Folger’s chances of victory with a reckless move, then Cortese went to ground after losing his nerve –he later got back on track and was able to finish the Japanese GP. Kent won the race, ahead of Viñales and Tonucci.

If there was a moral victor of the Japanese GP, it was MAPFRE Aspar’s Jonas Folger. Seventh on the grid, the German took the lead on lap two and held it four fourteen of the twenty times around Motegi. He set the pace for the lead group, but all this went to waste thanks to the impatience of a rival. Salom made an ill-advised push that denied him the victory. Folger had been going for his and the team’s second triumph of the 2012 campaign, but was denied the position that he deserved in Japan.

Teammate Luca Amato concluded a tough weekend of hard work in 22nd place.

The next round of the series takes place next weekend, in Malaysia.

Jonas Folger (DNF): 

“Today I felt very strong. Although yesterday we had some problems in qualifying, today we had solved the issues for the warm-up session. I started very motivated, I knew I could fight for the win and I tried to split the group from the off. Then I was joined by Kent and we had a tough battle. As the laps went on I started to feel even more comfortable on worn tyres. I felt that the group was having trouble keep up with me, so I pushed to the limit every lap and by now I wanted the win more than anything. I knew that if I kept pushing hard, serious options would achieve. But then, on the final lap, Salom took me out. It was a shame because we had done a great job. I hope to have better luck in Malaysia."

22nd Luca Amato: 

“This weekend we worked very hard, but we could not find the best set-up for this circuit. Nevertheless, I tried to learn a lot from my second Moto3 World Championship race. It was tough, but at least I was able to finish; little by little I will start enjoying myself more. The bike goes fast and has very good performance, I just need to adapt to it. We must continue working hard next weekend. I am convinced that through hard work, I'll gradually get used to this bike. I know I can ride much faster, and that is what I will try to do by any means necessary.”

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Third Row for Jonas Folger in Interrupted Qualifying Session

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The magnificent conditions at Motegi continued for the Moto3 riders on Saturday, as they battled for positions on the starting grid in qualifying. Pole went to Danny Kent, just two tenths of a second ahead of Maverick Viñales, but the place could easily have gone to any of Viñales, Cortese, Khairruddin or even Folger. Times were down over a second on those of Friday, thanks to the increase in temperatures. It appears as if four or five riders will be in the running for the Moto3 victory on race day.

MAPFRE Aspar rider Jonas Folger had an interrupted day on Saturday. He was strong at the start of qualifying and was soon up into the top places. However, ten minutes in he was stopped by an issue two corners from the end of a lap. His mechanics put him back on track a few minutes later and he put in a fast lap of 1’59.125 to take seventh on the grid. Folger had another issue three minutes from the end, but is still capable of fighting for the podium tomorrow and wants to repeat his rostrum finish from Aragón.

MAPFRE Aspar teammate Luca Amato continued his adaptation to the Kalex/KTM. The rookie is not having the best of times at Motegi, but persists in his search for improvement. He will start from 31st.

7th Jonas Folger 1.59.125 (10 laps): 

“This morning we changed the gearbox and the bike went back to working perfectly. Our feeling is very positive and we were very optimistic about qualifying, but later we had some setbacks. I don’t know why the engine started to work badly, but I had to stop on various occasions to control it. That prevented me from setting a good pace and getting a faster lap on the board. Despite all this we are calm. We will find the issue this afternoon and will be back to our best tomorrow. We know that we are fast, as even with this problem we were still seventh. I think that there will be a small lead group tomorrow, so I will have to be alert at the start in order to join up with it. My aim is to fight for the podium again.”

31st Luca Amato 2.01.500 (17 laps): 

“This bike is very fast and I am sure that it has great potential, but the question is that I need to work a lot more with it, get more laps under my belt and get used to riding it. I had trouble getting a feel for it today, I couldn’t turn it in well and I had to brake too much for the corners. Both myself and the team never stopped working throughout the day in our search to find solutions. Tomorrow we will continue working and I hope that we can gradually find the way to go. The most important thing right now is to ride a lot, learn as much as possible about the bike and try to get a setting that opens the way to riding fast.”

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Jonas Folger Sets Early Pace at Motegi

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There was no time for jetlag for the Moto3 riders at Motegi today as they opened the action at the Grand Prix of Japan with the first free practice this morning. Under bright blue skies and with perfect temperatures as high as 25ºC Jonas Folger set the pace in the opening session before his German compatriot Sandro Cortese took over the reigns in the afternoon, dominating a field that also includes local wildcards Watanabe and Kamei. The fastest lap of the day in Moto3 was a 1.59.448, almost two seconds off Mika Kallio's minor category lap record here (1.57.666).   

It was a day of experimentation for the MAPFRE Aspar Team, with both Jonas Folger and Luca Amato testing a variety of new things over the course of the two sessions. Jonas made a strong start, dominating the timesheets in the opening practice this morning before trying a change to his gearbox setting in the afternoon that did not have the desired effect. Time spent in the garage reverting the bike back to its original setting saw the German drop to seventh place by the end of the day but he remains confident that the team have the solution that will see him fighting for top spot again tomorrow. For Amato today was a first opportunity to uncover the secrets of Motegi, the MAPFRE Aspar Team rookie lapping 30th fastest overall.

7th Jonas Folger 2.00.219 (27 laps): 

“This morning's session was very positive but we made some changes for the afternoon that didn't work out as we'd hoped. We went the wrong way with the gearbox setting and that led to some other problems so we lost quite a lot of time. Even so we managed to try some chassis settings and rule out some things that don't work and now we have a clear idea of what we need to do tomorrow. Today was the day to try new things and I'm sure tomorrow we will find the feeling we are looking for.”

30th Luca Amato 2.02.403 (31 laps): 

“It was another day of adaptation for me. It's a nice track but it's quite tricky and I had to find my reference points. We had a few problems with the bike and struggled for a chassis setting. I was struggling to hold my line in the corners but it's only the first day and we have tonight to work out where we can improve. Tomorrow we will keep racking up the laps to help me adapt and hopefully my feeling will improve little by little.”

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Folger hopes to maintain podium form at Motegi as Amato continues World Championship adventure

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Almost five kilometres of twisting tarmac in the middle of a dense Japanese forest awaits the Moto3 youngsters this weekend as their three-week intercontinental adventure gets underway at Motegi. Located in the rural isolation of the Tochigi prefecture the circuit host the first of three World Championship races in as many weekends, with the series set to move swiftly on to Malaysia and Australia over the following fortnight. This is the time when the riders' intense physical training programmes really pay off and the exhausting run of races often tends to decide championships. Indeed in Moto3 Sandro Cortese, with a 51-point advantage over closest rival Luis Salom, gets his first mathematical opportunity to wrap up the title this Sunday.

MAPFRE Aspar Team rider Jonas Folger has his own championship hopes pinned on next season after signing a deal to remain with the Spanish outfit following an incredible start to their time together. With three podiums and a worst result of sixth place in just four outings as a MAPFRE Aspar Team man the German, third last time out at Aragón, heads to the Far East feeling full of confidence and eager to maintain his momentum until the end of the current campaign. His young compatriot and new team-mate Luca Amato has his own targets this weekend, the 16-year-old taking on the toughest period of the World Championship season just two weeks after making his debut at this level at Aragón.

Jonas Folger: “I really like the three races ahead of us now. Motegi is a spectacular track, very technical and with a lot of hard braking. Sepang is also one of my favourites so I hope we can keep up this run of excellent results. It is a tough period because you have three races very close together a long way from home but I know I have trained hard this year so I am mentally and physically prepared. In just four races with the MAPFRE Aspar Team we have scored some great results and the important thing is that we continue to grow. The objective this weekend will be to keep on making progress and hopefully pick up another podium.”

Luca Amato: “I am really excited to be competing in Asia. Everything is new to me but I am really looking forward to getting to Motegi and learning more about this category alongside the MAPFRE Aspar Team. Hopefully in Japan the weather is kinder to us than it was in Aragón because it was a really mixed weekend there. The important thing will be to continue to adapt and to work hard to find the feeling with the bike that we were missing at Aragón. To be honest I have only ever seen Motegi on the games console and on the television. It seems to have a lot of hard braking zones and it looks like a tricky but fun circuit.”

Mapfre Aspar Moto3 Press Release

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Jonas Folger on the Podium Again After Tough Battle

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The best track conditions of the weekend greated the Moto3 riders on race day: Sun, warm temperatures, clear skies and a light breeze for the Aragón GP. The race itself began with one less participant than expected, as Maverick Viñales experienced a mechanical issue on the formation lap and was forced out of action. The battle was fierce once the lights went out, with six lead changes over the duration and no clear dominant force. The fastest lap of the race, set by Danny Kent (2.01.351), was four tenths of a second quicker than yesterday’s pole (Jonas Folger, 2.01.715). Five riders were in with a chance of victory on the final lap, with Luis Salom taking it ahead of Sandro Cortese and Jonas Folger.

MAPFRE Aspar Team rider Jonas Folger had a point to prove after missing out in the podium fight two weeks ago at Misano, just a second off the win. Today in Aragón he was once again in with a shout. Taking off from pole, the German took the lead at the start of the contest, although he was to lose the position and contact with the top group after a mistake under braking. His tenacity put him back in the fight on lap fourteen. After passing Cortese, the series leader took him back on the straight, with Folger coming home in third. This is his third podium from four races with the MAPFRE Aspar Team.

Teammate Luca Amato had a happy conclusión to his first Moto3 World Championship race. He stayed upright and kept his cool to place 20th.

3rd Jonas Folger: “When I saw that I had made a good start, I tried to push hard to escape. However, it wasn’t possible. An enormous lead group was formed and you couldn’t lose focus for a second. I made some mistakes braking and I lost touch with the leaders at one point. Luckily I was able to maintain concentration and join back up with them. It was a very tough race, but I was expecting that. I was able to pass Sandro at the end and slot into second, but he got me back on the straight. Third place is positive, because we are back on the podium. The most important thing is the great job that the team are doing, which is making us more competitive with every session. I want to thank the MAPFRE Aspar Team and Kalex for all their efforts.”

20th Luca Amato: “The race went well, despite our feeling with the bike not being perfect. It is clear that everything is new for me and I need more races to get used to this bike. The Kalex/KTM is very different to the bike that I usually ride in the CEV. I placed twentieth, had a few problems with stability on the chicanes but had an engine that worked perfectly –it was very fast. I am very happy with this opportunity and to have finished my first World Championship race. I want to thank the sponsors and the team for this chance and I hope to continue learning in the next few races.”

Mapfre Aspar Moto3 Press Release

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Jonas Folger Aims to Continue Impressive Form at Aragon

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After the brief respite of a weekend off the MotoGP World Championship continues apace this weekend as the series heads off into the Spanish wilderness for the GP of Aragón. Over 5km of fast and flowing elevation changes await the riders, who have enjoyed riding at the Motorland circuit ever since it was first introduced as a replacement circuit before being installed as a fixture on the calendar. In the Moto3 class Sanro Cortese's latest victory at Misano means he leads the championship by 46 points over Maverick Viñales, with the Spaniard now coming under pressure for second place from his compatriot Luis Salom.

Jonas Folger makes only his fourth appearance for the MAPFRE Aspar Team this weekend with a third place and a victory already under his belt. The German finished sixth at Misano, a result that was more in line with expectations, but he is determined to return to the podium this weekend. He will be joined in the MAPFRE Aspar Team garage this weekend by a new team-mate in the shape of Luca Amato. The 16-year-old makes his World Championship debut at Aragón, making the step up from the Spanish Championship.

Jonas Folger: 

“I love Motorland because of the elevation changes. It is a difficult and demanding circuit and that's why I like it. We were close to the podium at Misano and I'd like to get back there this Sunday. We were just a second off and I know that if we keep working as we have done up to now we'll have a chance at Aragón. We have to work hard on our race pace in practice and then come up with a good strategy for Sunday because as we have seen in recent weeks everybody pushes to the very finish in Moto3. As far as bike set-up is concerned we took a big step forward with the front end at Misano so we'll try and maintain this progress.”

Luca Amato: 

“I am really looking forward to getting to Motorland and making my debut in the World Championship. I am working really hard to be as prepared as I possibly can for this really important weekend. I will try to adapt as quickly as possible to the tam and get a good feeling for the bike from the start. Motorland is a fast circuit with a lot of left-hand corners and personally I like that. I still don't know how the weekend will go but I just hope to learn as much as possible about the bike and get used to the team quickly. I will do my best to make the team proud and I can't wait for the GP of Aragón to get started.”

Mapfre Aspar Moto3 Press Release

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