Just one week before the start of testing, Jonas Folger has announced the shock news that heಌ wiౠll not race in the 2018 MotoGP season.

The Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider finished a brilliant runner-up to Marc Marquez at the Sachsenring, midway through his rookie year,&nbs𝕴p;but was then sidelined from Motegi with severe fatigue issues, initially thought to be a return of the Epstein Barr virus.

In November, it was stated that Folger168澳洲幸༒运5官方开奖结果历史: had been 🎶diagnosed with 'Gilbert Syndrome' and put on a special diet, with the young 👍🐷German pledging:

"It’s a huge relief that we now have a clear understanding of the situation and how t꧒o move forward... I will be back and stﷺronger than ever."

That ret🌟urn was assumed to be at the forthcoming Sepang test on January 28-30, but Folger has not recovered sufficiently and taken the drastic decision to skip the entire se꧑ason.

Given he has been "living with elements of ℱthis [illness] since 2011", it would be no exaggeration to say Fꦐolger's racing career is in peril.

📖“I’m incredibly sad to be saying 🌸this, but I will not be racing MotoGP in 2018," Folger announced.

"I wasn’t able to make the improvements I was hoping for, and at this stage I don’t feel able to ride a MotoGP ma🍰chine at 100 perce💛nt.

"I’d like to thank everyone involved,🍃 but especially the Monster ♚Yamaha Tech3 team, Yamaha Factory Japan, Monster Energy, HJC, IXON, Forma Boots and Rudy Project.

"I hope to be back one day 🙈and want t𒈔o thank you all for your ongoing support.”

Tech3 team manager Herve Poncharal has beꦛen left stunned by the news - and needs&🍷nbsp;to find a last-minute replacement to race alongside Johann Zarco.

“Last night [Tuesday]&nb♒sp;I received a call from Bob Moore, Jonas Folger’s personal manager," Poncharal said.

"I couldn’t believe what Bob was telling me on the phone, that Jonas Folger has decided not to race the 2018 MotoGP season, bec💯ause he doesn’t feel 100 percent mentally and physically r♕ecovered.

“It is still very difficult for me to believe, that he’s💝 not going to race with us in 2018, especially because he has been somebody I had lot of faith in and I was sure we would reach top level together this year.

"I completely respect his decision, although it’s hard to swꦐallow.

"Yet, I will try to find a solution for a replacement rider, which is a very difficult missio❀n, as all of the fast riders are already contracted.

"But as always in racing we need to be proaꦡctive, inventive and hopefully we can make someone very happy.

"We will keep all of you informed about the evolution of the si🧜tuation.”

Tech3 was the top satellite team🐓 in 2017, with Folger's team-mate and fellow rookie Zarco claiming three podiums and two poles on his way to sixth in the world championship.

As such, and despite the late timin💦g, there will be no shortage of interested candidates.

Kohta Nozane, Broc Parkes and Michael van der Mark took turns replacing Folger while he was absent at the end of last year (but did not s💦core a point), while Alex Lowes claimed 13th when he stepped in at Tech 3 in 2016.

van der Mark and Lowes are again𝄹 due to race for Yℱamaha in WorldSBK this season.

The𝕴 leading option as far 🧸keeping a German rider on the grid would be Stefan Bradl, but he is due to start his new role as a Honda test rider at Sepang.

Sylvain Guintoli is another MotoGP test rider with plenty of premier-class race experience, including at Tech3, but is now heavཧily involved with Suzuki.

In terms of giving another 'young gun' the chance, the obvioꦇus contenders include Tech3's own Moto2 team - and Xavi Vierge would have been the perfect candidate.

But after handing Tech3 it's first Moto2 podium sinc𝓀e Bradley Smith in 2011, the highly-rated Spaniard has departed for Dynavolt Intact.

Rookie Bo Bendsneyder will take his place at Teꩲch3, alongside Remy Gardner, who is still finding his feet in the intermediate class.

Folger (24) won three races in Moto🥂2, one race in Moto3 and one race in ✨125cc before getting his MotoGP chance.

Who do you think should get the Tech 3 seat? Leave your comments below...