Munich doctors have finally diagnosed Monster Yamaha rider Jonas Folger with Gilbert Syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting two to five per cent of the population, where the liver is unable to effectively process toxins.
The German was has sidelined from Japanese MotoGP round onwards and his M1 will this weekend again be ridden by Michael van der Mark but he says is pleased to finally know what is wrong.
It has been an underlying condition that has plagued Folger for several years but had never been diagnosed properly. Prior to the Japanese GP it had escalated to a point where his entire body shut down, rendering him bedridden.
Folger is currently going through a complete detoxification and cleansing of the body to help flush his liver and disperse of all toxins and moving forward he will need to adapt to a special diet.
"It’s a huge relief that we now have a clear understanding of the situation and how to move forward. The past six weeks have been very difficult for me, not knowing what’s happening or why my body shut down completely. I’ve been living with elements of this since 2011 but I’ve always been able to overcome it and we never really knew what it was,” said Folger.
It’s unfortunate that it took such a serious episode to finally diagnose the situation but I’m just thankful we now have some answers. I miss my team and all my friends in the paddock. I’ve received a lot of support from everyone on social media, not just fans but my competitors also and this means a lot to me. I’d like to thank everyone at Monster Yamaha Tech3 and all my sponsors for their belief in me, and messages of support. I will be back and stronger than ever, fighting at the top of MotoGP."