Folger on the podium at opening CIV round

After a good preseason preparation programme over the winter with the Red Bull MotoGP Academy, German rider Jonas Folger was on form at the opening round of the Italian national championship (Campeonato Italiano de Velocidad – CIV) season at Mugello over the weekend, finishing the 125cc race in second place.

Folger made a great start onboard his KTM machinery and took the lead early on having overtaken pole man Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia – RCGM), with the two riders going on to battle with each over and Gabriele Ferro (Honda – Metasystem) throughout the race, as the leading group.

Eventually, it was former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup participant Savadori who took victory by three seconds over Folger, who is now in his third year at the Academy despite still being just 14 years-old.

His schedule in 2008 will see Folger take part in various national championship races at MotoGP venues, and the Mugello result comes as a boost following his crash in a French domestic championship race at Le Mans earlier this month. Folger´s next race appearance will be at Donington Park in May.