Folger returns in Moto2 as Petronas stand-in with Pasini injured

Jonas Folger will make his racing comeback next weekend in the Catalan Moto2 race as stand-in at Petronas Sprinta Racing after initial replacement Mattia Pasini suffered a broken collarbone.

Former MotoGP podium-finisher Folger, who stepped away from racing midway through 2017 due to illness, has returned to action as Yamaha’s European-based MotoGP test rider this year.

The German rider, who has claimed three Moto2 race wins in his career, will stand-in at the Petronas squad in a three-round deal covering next weekend’s Catalan round plus the Assen and Sachsenring rounds.

Folger replaces previous stand-in Mattia Pasini, who stood in for regular rider Khairul Idham Pawi at Le Mans and Mugello, after the Italian suffered a broken collarbone in a motocross training accident.

The 25-year-old is relishing the chance to return to racing, with his last outing being the 2017 Aragon MotoGP, and given his experience on the Kalex Moto2 chassis plus his role as a test rider during the development of the new Triumph engine he’s confident of quickly getting up to speed.

“I’m really excited to get the chance to be competing again,” Folger said. “I can’t wait to get back on a bike and get that racing feeling. Petronas Sprinta Racing are an exceptionally professional team in all three categories and I know some of the crew in the Moto2 squad from the past. I’m looking forward to working with them again, especially as I have some good friends there.

“I have positive memories of Barcelona as I’ve been on the podium and put in some fast laps there in the past. It’s actually one of my favourite tracks and it suits my riding style well.

“The Kalex is a really fun bike to ride because the riding style is very similar to what you use in MotoGP. The Triumph engine feels closer to a MotoGP bike, it suits me and I didn’t do badly in testing, so I can’t wait to get going again on it.”