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Can Öncü
© WorldSBK
Birth Place:
Alanya, Turkey
Date of Birth:
26 July 2003 (Age 20)
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Career Highlights:
Red Bull Rookies Cup Champion 2018
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Current Race Number:
61
Social Media:
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Introduction
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Can entered the Asia Talent Cup series in 2016 at the age of 13 (competing alongside twin brother Deniz) finishing ninth that year and third in 2017. Both brothers then made the switch to the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2017 where Can quickly found his feet and secured third in the championship standings in his debut season before going on to clinch the Rookies Cup title in 2018. More success was yet to follow that year when Can entered the final round of the Moto3 Championship at Valencia as a wildcard entry, riding for the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad.
Ups and downs
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Due to a rule change in the FIM regulations that allowed the reigning Red Bull Rookies Cup Champion to compete in a Moto3 race without being required to have an adult racing license (16 years+), Can created history as the youngest rider to win a GP event riding on his debut at the age of 15 years and 115 days. He put on a wet weather masterclass to take a memorable victory and announce his presence on the world stage.
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That victory, combined with his Red Bull Rookies Cup title, was enough to secure Can a full-time ride for the 2019 Moto3 campaign with the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad. However, things didn't go to plan and he endured a torrid season.
His poor form was compounded further when he crashed heavily at the Misano round forcing him to miss the next three races with brother Deniz filling in for him during his absence. Managing only three point scoring finishes all season and looking a shadow of his former self, Can dissapointingly - if predictably - lost his ride at Red Bull KTM Ajo at the end of the season - a change of scenery was needed...
© Red Bull - Can leads the chasing pack in the Red Bull Rookies Cup at Misano, Italy - 2018
Hanging it out on the KTM Ajo Moto3 bike, Sepang, Malaysia - 2019
Regaining form
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Step forward Kenan SofuoÄŸlu, who brokered a deal with his former employers Puccetti Kawasaki Racing to find Can a new home in the World Supersport series for 2020. It took some time for him to find his feet in the 600cc class, and it wasn't until the second half of his second season in 2021 that he achieved his first podium finishes in France and Argentina.
A strong pre-season ahead of the 2022 campaign saw Can at the top of the time sheets at every test and he started to look like the rider that promised so much just a few years ago.
© Can Öncu Twitter - Tucked in aboard the Puccetti Kawsaki ZX-6R at San Juan, Argentina - 2021
With renewed confidence and expectations heading into the campaign, the youngster started the season well enough with a couple of third-place finishes from the first two rounds. However, a down-turn in form culminated in him coming off of social media for the remainder of the season from the UK round onwards. And although a return to form didn't take place immediately after this, the No.61 went on to clinch six podiums (including a season best second position in Race 2 at Catalunya), which cemented a distant third in the final championship standings.
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Heading into his fourth season in the class, and wıth 2021 and 2022 World Supersport Champion Dominque Aegerter gaining promotion to the WorldSBK class - along with '22 runner-up Lorenzo Baldassarri) - 2023 should have been the year that Can really stepped up to prove his credentials...
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© WorldSBK - Battling hard at Portimão, Portugal- 2022
Out of luck
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The No.61 kicked the 2023 campaign off in promising fashion, claiming a third in the second race of the season opener at Phillip Island, before going on to finally break his duck to take his maiden win in the class at the following round at Mandalika, Indonesia. But just as it looked as if he was starting to build up a head of steam, an ill-judged and frankly reckless passing attempt by ex-team mate Yari Montella resulted in Can being dramatically taken out at Assen.
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Worse still, he endured very serious and long-term shoulder, wrist and nerve injuries which side-lined him. A lengthy spell of rehabilitation from April to September followed (including numerous surgeries), and he made a brave, if unexpected return to action in September at Magny Cours, France, despite not being anywhere near race-fit.
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Some argued the 20-year old's reintroduction to the fold was too soon and risky, but to Can's credit, he kept his nose clean and slowly but surely started to climb up the order in the final few rounds, scoring points on a handful of occasions.
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Even into the post season, he underwent another surgery as he fights to be ready for another title tilt with Puccetti Racing.
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© Gold & Goose - Heeding the sage words of mentor Kenan SofuoÄŸlu, 2023