Current FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Championship star Deniz Öncü is set to make his Grand Prix racing debut at the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky this weekend, the Turkish rider joining brother Can Öncü in the Red Bull KTM Ajo box.
Can concluded the first half of his rookie Grand Prix season with his first point-scoring ride of 2019, crossing the line 14th at the Sachsenring. It’s been a low-key start to life as a full-time GP rider for the recently turned 16-year-old after setting the world alight at the end of 2018, becoming the youngest ever Grand Prix race winner in a masterful display at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Now though, Can heads to a circuit he knows well. He won in Brno during the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2017 and with the signs of improvements for Can on the 2019 KTM, maybe we could see one of the brightest young talents challenge at the forefront of a Moto3™ race again.
“This summer break was very useful for me, as I took the time to prepare physically and mentally for the next race, as well as for the second half of the season,” said Can ahead of the Czech GP.
“The Czech GP is going to be special for me with my twin brother competing as a wildcard, I’m incredibly happy for him. Furthermore, at Brno we’ll be working to maintain the good dynamic that we had at the last races before the holidays. I know that, if we push hard with the extra motivation of having my brother on the other side of the box, we can achieve a good result.”
Meanwhile, twin brother Deniz also claimed a Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup win at the Czech layout in 2017, so it’s a track he knows and goes well at too. This will the first of his two wildcards, the second coming next weekend in Austria.
“I’m very happy to be making my World Championship debut at the Czech Grand Prix. I’ve worked very hard to be able to adapt and to compete in a new Championship for me, so I will try to do my best,” comments Deniz.
“I hope we can do well, because we’ll be at a circuit that I already know. However, I know that this is a different level, so I will try to learn as much as I can throughout the weekend. Racing again with my twin brother is very exciting, and it will be really nice to share the track with him.”
See the Turkish duo in action as the Moto3™ class kick off Brno’s proceedings on Friday morning at 09:00 local time (GMT+2).