Former MotoGP star Jonas Folger joins the WorldSBK series as a rookie in 2021 but has already named factory BMW riders Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark as his first targets.

Folger will run a satellite bike this season under the Bonovo MGM Racing banner after racing a Yamaha as a wildcard last season.

“To be a rookie again is absolutely exciting. It's a new class and I had a lot of fun contesting the wildcards, so that I was able to get a little taste of the class before 2021," said the German.

"I noticed very quickly that this is the category I want to compete in, and I think it's cool. A cool paddock, relaxed atmosphere; it makes a big difference. Unfortunately, at the moment without all of the spectators, so I still miss the 'normal' superbike experience. But I know that this suits me. That's why I decided to go to WorldSBK.

I am very surprised by the BMW and know how much potential there is in it. I know that we can have very strong races with it and I was able to switch to the BMW pretty quickly. I am firmly convinced that the bike suits me and I am really looking forward to finding and implementing even more potential.

“Everyone has their ten test days a year, some of them consume them earlier, BMW decided that we would drive on other days and start a little later, which I think is not a disadvantage, as there was more time with BMW for certain things to change before we finally went on the racetrack.

“We saw that those who were there earlier also had wet days, which is of course not an advantage. We've always had great weather up until now.

“Of course, expectations are always there, but we are all rookies, the team and me. From that point of view, we said it many times, the top ten is our goal and I think that is absolutely feasible. I don't think there is such a great amount of pressure on my shoulders, as, for example, there is on the factory riders, Michael van der Mark and Tom Sykes.

“My greatest rivals, or rather the riders to be beaten first, are the BMW factory riders.”