Who is Jonas Folger? Everything to know about Maverick Vinales’ Tech3 replacement for the French GP

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Jonas Folger will be taking the reins of Maverick Vinales’ KTM Tech3 motorcycle at the French Grand Prix this weekend, and this is everything you need to know about the German professional motorcycle racer.

Following absences at the United States and Spanish Grands Prix, Tech3 have confirmed that Maverick Vinales will also miss the upcoming French Grand Prix as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

Top Gun underwent a procedure to remove a screw from his left shoulder in April, which was inserted after the Spaniard crashed out of qualifying at last year’s German GP.

The French satellite team didn’t field a replacement for the stricken Vinales in Texas or Jerez, but Jonas Folger has now been given the green light to compete in his stead at Le Mans this weekend.

• READ MORE: KTM boss Pit Beirer admits ‘patience has run out’ with Maverick Vinales amid ongoing injury issues

Jonas Folger will replace the injured Maverick Vinales at the 2026 French GP

Folger has made all 19 of his premier class starts for Tech3, with his first and only top-three finish in MotoGP coming at his home Grand Prix in 2017.

He is a race winner in the Moto3 and Moto2 categories, and his most recent appearance in the premier class came in 2023, where he replaced the injury-stricken Pol Espargaro for six rounds.

Maverick Vinales’ absence continues at the French GP!

Did he derail his MotoGP career by rushing back from his shoulder injury?

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Folger outlined his excitement for his return to action in MotoGP, saying in KTM’s official press release, “First of all, I want to wish Maverick a strong and quick recovery.

“On a personal level, I am really excited to be coming back together with all the guys at Tech3. I have some history with this team, and it will be great to see everyone again.

“Le Mans will be a big challenge, going back after so many years away from racing, and getting back on the bike will mean adapting quickly and learning a lot across the weekend.

“It is going to be tough, for sure, but I believe the positives outweigh the difficulties, and I am very much looking forward to it. I cannot wait.”

Where was Jonas Folger born? What is his nationality?

Jonas Folger was born in Mühldorf, Germany, and got his first taste of motorcycles while on a family holiday in Italy at just three years old.

He began competing at the age of nine, and dominated the German mini-bike circuit, which earned him a chance at further opportunities in the motorcycle racing ladder.

How old is Jonas Folger and when was he born?

Jonas Folger was born on the 13th August 1993, making him 32 years old at the time of writing.

The German made his debut in Grand Prix motorcycle racing at 15, when he competed in a few rounds of the 2008 125cc class with KTM.

Folger was then rewarded with a full-time ride with Aprilia for the following season. He claimed his first podium that year, at the 2009 French Grand Prix.

How tall is Jonas Folger and how much does he weigh?

According to the official MotoGP website, Jonas Folger is 177cm tall, making him 5ft 9in. His weight is also listed on his rider profile as 68kg, making him 10st 10lbs.

What number does Jonas Folger race with?

Jonas Folger typically races with the number 94 adorned on the front fairing of his motorcycle. He has used this number throughout much of his career, including in MotoGP and as a test rider.

During an appearance at the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race, Folger competed under #95, as per the team’s requirements.

Jonas Folger was forced to depart from MotoGP in 2018 after Gilbert’s syndrome diagnosis

Following an impressive rookie campaign that saw him finish P10 in the riders’ standings despite missing the last four rounds of the term, Folger was forced to vacate his seat at Tech3 following his diagnosis of Gilbert’s syndrome.

The condition left him bedridden in the build-up to that year’s Japanese Grand Prix, and he underwent extensive medical tests upon his return to Germany. It’s understood that the German has been affected by the syndrome since 2011.

Folger had already re-signed to race for Tech3 in the 2018 campaign, but the diagnosis scuppered his plans, and the French team signed Malaysia’s first-ever MotoGP rider in Hafizh Syahrin in his stead.

Jonas Folger’s Grand Prix career racing stats

Folger made his debut in Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the 125cc class at the 2008 Czech GP, eight rounds after seven-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez took part in his inaugural Grand Prix.

His first victory came during the 2012 Czech GP, and the German continued to race in the lightweight class until its rebrand to Moto3 in 2012, before stepping up to the intermediate Moto2 category in 2014.

Folger would go on to win three races before making another step up to MotoGP in 2017, before returning to the intermediate class in 2019.