MotoGP: Rookie Folger stuns with fast pace

Maverick Viñales wasn’t the only Yamaha rider to come away from last week’s Phillip Island MotoGP test having impressed, with rookie sensation Jonas Folger stunning by finishing fourth overall, only just missing out on the chance to become one of an elite club of riders to dip into the 1:28 laps.

Running not only one fast lap but consistently at that pace, the German has shown an incredible turnaround in form after a difficult 2016 Moto2 campaign – but says that it’s simply a case of the more advanced MotoGP electronics allowing him to ride the bike the way he wants to.

“it’s hard to say why the transition has been so good, but the GP bike’s electronics helps me in many ways, in places where I had problems in Moto2. Every problem I have now, I can solve myself by 50% and then have the mechanics solve the rest. They have so many things they can see on the bike that they can also tell me where I’m making mistakes so that I can change my riding to adapt better.

“I’m surprised with my lap time, but what’s good is that we were many times close to it, and able to set up the electronics well on used tyres too. But I think I have to stay calm and not expect too much. It’s just testing and everything can change in the race!”

It was more steady away at Phillip Island for Folger’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate Johann Zarco, with the double Moto2 world champion finishing 15^th overall, admitting that he knows that he sometimes takes his time to adapt to a new machine and that he believes the speed will come.