Moto3: Aspar holds on to Folger for 2013
The young German, a former 125cc race winner, had finished in the Moto2 points just once (eleventh) from seven starts with the Iodaracing team - but found instant success at Aspar.
Signed in place of Alberto Moncayo, Folger put Aspar's Kalex-KTM on the podium during his Indianapolis debut - then won next time out in Brno. The 18-year-old then took a further rostrum at Aragon, making it three podiums from four Aspar appearances.
“I am delighted to be able to confirm the signature of Jonas Folger for 2013,” said team principal Jorge Martinez 'Aspar'. “Ever since he rode the bike for the first time at Indianapolis he has shown a high level of performance and been constantly amongst the leading positions.
“I think it is great that we will be together again in Moto3 for the whole of next season. The Mapfre Aspar Team has complete faith in the Kalex/KTM package and of course in Jonas Folger. We hope that in 2013 this combination can take us back to where we belong, which is fighting for the Moto3 title.”
Folger joins Nico Terol (Moto2), Randy de Puniet (MotoGP) and Aleix Espargaro (MotoGP) in having a 2013 Aspar contract in place.
“I am really happy that I am staying with the Mapfre Aspar Team for another season and I think Jorge is too,” said Folger. “We made a connection from the first minute we started working together and thanks to this the results started coming instantly.
“I want to keep going like this and be on the podium at of the remaining races. My objective for next season is to start as strongly as possible and fight for the title from the start.”
Hector Faubel, who formed Aspar's original Moto3 line-up alongside Moncayo, has since been replaced by Folger's fellow countryman and grand prix rookie Luca Amato.
