Jonas Folger

Jonas Folger is a German professional motorcycle racer and experienced test and development rider who has competed across multiple Grand Prix categories, including Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. Born in Bavaria, Germany, Folger built his career through the Grand Prix racing system before establishing an important role as a development and test rider for manufacturers competing in MotoGP. His technical experience and understanding of motorcycle behaviour have made him a valuable contributor to the development of modern prototype racing machines.

Folger began racing motorcycles at a young age and quickly progressed through the German and European junior racing system. He made his Grand Prix debut in the 125cc World Championship as a teenager in 2008. Competing as a wildcard, he immediately demonstrated strong speed and earned opportunities to continue competing at international level. His early career was characterised by rapid development and several strong performances against more experienced riders.

In the following seasons, Folger became a regular competitor in the lightweight Grand Prix category. He achieved his first Grand Prix victory in the 125cc class at the British Grand Prix in 2011. His performances established him as one of Germany's leading young motorcycle racers and eventually led to a move into the newly established Moto3 category.

Folger continued his career in Moto2, where he developed further as a rider and became a regular contender for podium positions. His breakthrough season came in 2015 when he finished sixth in the Moto2 World Championship after securing multiple podiums and a victory. He remained competitive in 2016 and finished the season seventh overall, collecting several podium finishes and demonstrating his ability to fight consistently at the front of the intermediate class.

In 2017, Folger moved to MotoGP with Monster Yamaha Tech 3. His rookie campaign immediately showed his potential in the premier class. He achieved his first MotoGP podium at the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, finishing second after an impressive battle at the front. He also produced several other strong performances during the season and ended the championship in tenth position.

Folger's full-time MotoGP career was interrupted after the 2017 season, but he remained involved in the sport through technical and development roles. His extensive experience with different motorcycle concepts and his understanding of MotoGP machinery allowed him to transition toward test and development work.

Folger subsequently became associated with KTM's MotoGP development programme, where he worked as a test and development rider. His responsibilities included testing prototype machinery, evaluating new components and providing detailed technical feedback to engineers. The role required not only outright riding speed but also the ability to identify differences in chassis behaviour, electronics, aerodynamics, braking and tyre performance.

His experience later extended to Yamaha's MotoGP development programme. As a test rider, Folger contributed to the evaluation of Yamaha prototype machinery and participated in private testing programmes. His ability to communicate technical information clearly became an important part of his role, particularly during development stages when manufacturers must determine whether new components provide measurable improvements.

Folger also returned to competition on selected occasions, including replacement appearances in MotoGP. These opportunities allowed him to combine his development responsibilities with direct race experience and maintain his understanding of the demands faced by full-time MotoGP riders.

Throughout his career, Folger has therefore occupied two complementary roles within Grand Prix racing: competitive rider and technical development rider. His experience across 125cc, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP gives him a broad understanding of how motorcycle performance changes between categories. His work with KTM and Yamaha further strengthened his technical knowledge of modern prototype machinery.

Today, Jonas Folger is recognised not only for his results as a Grand Prix racer but also for his contribution as an experienced test and development rider. His ability to translate riding impressions into useful technical feedback makes him an important part of the motorcycle development process, particularly in MotoGP where manufacturers continuously refine chassis behaviour, electronics, aerodynamics and overall performance.