As the 1993 ADAC Junior Cup champion, Alexander “Xan” Folger laid the foundation for his family’s racing success. His nephew Jonas even made it onto the podium in the MotoGP World Championship and now competes in the Superbike World Championship. Both used the IDM as a springboard for their careers. Now it’s the turn of the next Folger: 19-year-old Valentin. “Xan’s” son is set to begin his second season in the IDM Supersport 300 in 2021. His participation is 95% confirmed. A few sponsorship talks still need to be held.
“Expectations are already high. Whenever the name Folger comes up, it’s automatically associated with success in racing.” Valentin Folger experiences this all the time. Especially around the town of Obertaufkirchen, nestled idyllically in the Inn Valley. The entire Folger family calls this region home. But that doesn’t bother Valentin in the least. He’s a third-year mechatronics apprentice and wants to carry on the family tradition.
The true source of his success is none other than his own father. Alexander Folger, now 46, won the inaugural season of the ADAC Junior Cup in 1993 with five victories in six races. The Bavarian then made a splash in the German Championship, followed by Grand Prix races in the 125cc and 250cc classes. But because even after years he couldn’t make a living from racing, he called it quits and opted for a traditional career. Now, however, he’s back in the thick of the racing world with his son Valentin. No longer as a driver, but as a passionate mechanic. And the junior says: “My parents support me all the way. And I’m doing everything I can to make sure I keep moving forward.”
Valentin Folger is set to begin his second IDM Supersport 300 season in 2021 and has a lot of ground to make up. The Bavarian is a latecomer to the sport; he made his first attempts in the ADAC Junior Cup at just 13 years old and made a name for himself in race training sessions. His entry into the IDM last year was brief and intense. “I thought I could score points right from the start, but nothing went right at all,” Folger admits candidly, adding: “Of course, I’d been warned by various people that the level in the class is extremely high, but that didn’t stop me from competing there.”
Folger is determined to succeed. His long-term goal: the world championship. “My daily routine is geared toward that.” That means training seven times a week. And he’ll be riding last year’s Yamaha YZF-R3. In 2021, he’s aiming to rack up championship points.
Can Valentin benefit from the experience of his famous cousin, Jonas Folger? “Yes, he gives me some really good advice that helps me improve. But I still have to ride on my own. Jonas tries to support me as much as he can. During one practice session, he even took my bike and showed me what it’s capable of.”