Folger on his #AustrianGP brake failure

Jonas Folger’s (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) Austrian GP didn’t go to plan, with a difficult qualifying on Saturday then followed up by a DNF in the race. The German rookie had been feeling good and was preparing an attack on Loris Baz (Reale Avinta Racing) in the early stages before feeling a problem with the brakes, subsequently forced into pitlane.

Earlier in the weekend, Folger had tried a new chassis without reaching a conclusion about its suitability for the Red Bull Ring, but had make a breakthrough with feeling as race day dawned - then left frustrated as his Austrian GP was cut short.

Jonas Folger, DNF: "I have to admit that it was a really hard weekend for us and there were many ups and downs. We tried a new chassis but we were unsure if it was better or not at this circuit, and I think in the end I was not getting confident with the track. However, I felt good in the warm up, even if my position was quite low because I was using old tyres. Plus, my qualifying performance was not so bad if we look at the lap time. Therefore, I was feeling confident for the race, but then we experienced a technical issue and I had to retire.

"It is very, very annoying because I went into the race with a good feeling as well as I felt very comfortable right from the start. In the first flying lap, I was on the best way to build up a rhythm and set to start an attack on Loris Baz, in order not to lose connection with both factory Yamahas. But as soon I came back from lap two, brake pressure was gone. I was lucky that I had recognised the problem in time to slow down the bike before going into turn one. Then, however, I tried to rebuild the brake pressure along the straight to turn three, but at that time there was no more pressure at all.

"It would not have made sense to replace the braking system because we would have lost too much time and the second bike was prepared for rain. I know that after the crash in Warm Up, the brakes were changed but what has led to this sudden brake failure, however, still needs to be carefully investigated. In any case, it hurts that we have lost another race in this way. As I said, I felt very comfortable and confident that we could have done a strong race."