Marco Bezzecchi
Jonas Folger has immediately addressed Tech3’s expectations for him as he prepares to sub for Maverick Vinales at the upcoming French Grand Prix.
With Maverick Vinales still sidelined as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, Tech3 have confirmed Jonas Folger will be replacing the stricken Spaniard at Le Mans this weekend.
Top Gun has missed the last two rounds of the 2026 campaign, with the KTM-backed satellite outfit fielding just one bike in Enea Bastianini in his absence.
Maverick Vinales’ absence continues at the French GP!
Did he derail his MotoGP career by rushing back from his shoulder injury?
Folger last competed in the premier class during the 2023 term, replacing Pol Espargaro at Tech3 for six rounds following the Spaniard’s heavy crash at that year’s Portuguese GP, which left him with a fractured jaw, fractured vertebrae and lung contusion.
- READ MORE: Who is Jonas Folger? Everything to know about Maverick Vinales’ Tech3 replacement for the French GP
Jonas Folger says Tech3 ‘can’t expect miracles’ in replacement ride at French GP
During an interview with Speedweek ahead of his return to action in MotoGP, Folger asserted that he won’t be at the centre of any ‘miracles’ at the French GP this weekend.
Having raced for the Tech3 outfit in all 19 of his appearances in the premier class, Folger knows the team well. As such, they know his skillset well, and he himself is not under any illusions.
“You can’t expect miracles,” he started. “The days are gone when you could keep up with the top three while being 2 seconds off the pace per lap. The fact that Toprak Razgatlioglu is currently riding at the back of the field says it all.
Has Toprak Razgatlioglu just pulled off the save of the season in practice at the Spanish Grand Prix? 😳
How did he save that?!
“First and foremost, it’s about me standing in for Maverick so the bike gets ridden. I’m not under any pressure from KTM either. I have to ride for myself, make sure I get into the mix and get the most out of it.
“Anything can happen, but we don’t normally finish in the points. The important thing is that I don’t lose three seconds per lap. I need to learn quickly; I’ve been in this situation before when I replaced Pol Espargaro.
“It was an absolute slog when you’re thrown on the bike overnight. The others head out for the first practice session and go full throttle.
“I have to make sure I don’t rush things, but at the same time I can’t afford to lose too much ground. It’s going to be a massive challenge, there’s no question about that, there’s no specific target.”
- READ MORE: Maverick Vinales now on the ‘unofficial blacklist’ of MotoGP riders with 2027 seat in doubt
Jonas Folger can take inspiration from Lorenzo Savadori’s replacement ride at the 2025 French GP
While being a replacement rider in MotoGP is one of the hardest tasks that a test rider can take on, there have been a couple of instances where a stand-in has exceeded expectations.
For example, at last year’s French GP, Lorenzo Savadori impressed with his P9 finish as he took the reins of Jorge Martin’s Aprilia bike as the 2024 world champion continued his rehabilitation in the midst of an injury-ridden campaign.
While just eking into the top ten is not anything to shout about on paper, a P9 finish for Folger this weekend would certainly be an improvement on the P16 and P18 Grand Prix finishes Vinales claimed in the first two rounds of 2026, respectively.
Folger can also take confidence in the fact that his replacement ride will take place at Le Mans. He secured his first podium in Grand Prix motorcycle racing at the circuit during his 125cc days in 2009, so he has some fond memories of the track.
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