WorldSBK | Bradl on Folger: “Jonas is without doubt a top rider!”
Ex Moto2™ World Champion and WorldSBK star Stefan Bradl has unveiled his thoughts about Jonas Folger’s much anticipated rookie campaign in WorldSBK.
Folger’s fellow countryman was excited to see how Folger adapted to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in 2021, but was also unsure how the new BMW M 1000 RR would stack up on the WorldSBK field.
“Jonas is without a doubt a top rider,” began Bradl who raced against Folger in the 125cc World Championship, in an interview with SPEEDWEEK.com. “It’s good that we have a German again at World Championship level. We know that Jonas has the talent and experience to be up front. He is in good age and physically well together. If he has overcome his illness, then he can compete at a good level in the Superbike World Championship.”
Folger was diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome, which forced him out of MotoGP™ after a promising rookie season in 2017, which included a podium. He clinched the IDM Championship in 2020 with Michael Galinski’s Bonovo Action team whilst also competing in two WorldSBK rounds, where he achieved top ten results aboard a Yamaha YZF R1.
For his first full season, Folger will switch to German machinery and the new BMW M 1000 RR, something Stefan Bradl also spoke about: “How he gets on with the BMW, I have no idea. I also don’t know whether the BMW is competitive or whether they are in the midfield. BMW should definitely take this seriously; in terms of professionalism, you can always do something better in racing,” concluded the HRC test rider in MotoGP™.