Rennie Scaysbrook | January 17, 2018
Jonas Folger Pulls Out of MotoGP 2018—Monster Yamaha Tech3 Yamaha rider Jonas Folger has incredibly pulled out of racing in the 2018 MotoGP World Championship after it was revealed he is still not recovered from a rare strain of Gilbert’s Syndrome that sidelined him in the last quarter of the 2017 season.
Shock News Rocks MotoGP Paddock
Folger is out of MotoGP 2018 and his racing career is now in serious jeopardy.
The German, who finished a stellar second to Marc Marquez in his home MotoGP at the Saschenring in July, made the announcement yesterday, leaving his team in shock and his career in the top flight in serious jeopardy.
“I’m incredibly sad to be saying this, but I will not be racing MotoGP in 2018,” said Folger. “I wasn’t able to make the improvements I was hoping for, and at this stage, I don’t feel able to ride a MotoGP machine at 100 percent. I’d like to thank everyone involved, but especially the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team, Yamaha Factory Japan, Monster Energy, HJC, IXON, Forma Boots and Rudy Project. I hope to be back one day and want to thank you all for your ongoing support.”
Team Manager Herve Poncharal says he was shocked by the decision but respects it.
Folger enjoyed an excellent rookie season in MotoGP last year but that now seems a distant memory.
“Last night (Tuesday) I received a call from Bob Moore, Jonas Folger’s personal manager,” explained Poncharal. “I couldn’t believe what Bob was telling me on the phone, that Jonas Folger has decided not to race the 2018 MotoGP season because he doesn’t feel 100 percent mentally and physically recovered. It is still very difficult for me to believe, that he’s not going to race with us in 2018, especially because he has been somebody I had a lot of faith in and I was sure we would reach top level together this year. I completely respect his decision, although it’s hard to swallow. Yet, I will try to find a solution for a replacement rider, which is a very difficult mission, as all of the fast riders are already contracted. But as always in racing, we need to be proactive, inventive and hopefully, we can make someone very happy. We will keep all of you informed about the evolution of the situation.”
Folger’s decision to not race in 2018 leaves one of the most desirable team places on the grid vacant in the second Tech3 Yamaha as teammate to Johann Zarco. Kohta Nozane, Broc Parkes, and Michael van der Mark all rode the Monster Yamaha in the last quarter of the 2017 season, although no word has yet been made on Folger’s official replacement.
