Deniz Öncü, born on 26 July 2003 in Alanya, is a Turkish professional motorcycle racer who began his racing career in 2011 and progressed from Moto3 to the Moto2 World Championship, where he has achieved podium finishes and race victories.

Deniz Öncü (AA)

Identity and Basic Information

Deniz Öncü was born on 26 July 2003 in Alanya. He is 172 cm tall and weighs 62 kg. His racing career began in 2011 and he is a professional motorcycle racer competing in the Moto2 World Championship; he previously raced in the Moto3 class.

Early Years and Transition to Circuit Disciplines

Deniz Öncü, alongside his twin brother Can Öncü, turned to motorsports at an early age. He competed in motocross and supermoto disciplines before transitioning fully to asphalt racing in 2015 under the guidance of Kenan Sofuoğlu.

Junior Cups and International Level

Asia Talent Cup and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Era (2017–2018)

In 2017, Deniz Öncü competed in both the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the Asia Talent Cup. He won the 2017 Asia Talent Cup championship and finished fourth in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. That same season, Can Öncü finished third in the Asia Talent Cup. In the 2018 season, Deniz Öncü secured second place in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

Moto3 Career

Entry into Moto3 (2019)

Deniz Öncü began competing in Moto3 in 2019. In his debut season, he participated in five races with Red Bull KTM Ajo. According to the MotoGP statistics table^【1】, his 2019 Moto3 season recorded five starts and zero points.

Red Bull KTM Tech3 Era (2020–2022)

In 2020, Deniz Öncü moved to the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team. He completed three consecutive seasons with the team, finishing 17th, 11th, and 5th in the standings respectively. According to the MotoGP statistics table^【2】, his 2020 season consisted of 15 starts, 50 points, and 17th place; the 2021 season included 16 starts, 95 points, and 11th place; and the 2022 season recorded 20 starts, 200 points, and 5th place.

Return to Red Bull KTM Ajo and the 2023 Season

Deniz Öncü (left) and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (right) (AA)

In the 2023 season, Deniz Öncü returned to Red Bull KTM Ajo. He achieved his first race wins in Moto3, securing three victories and seven podiums over the course of 20 races, finishing fourth in the riders’ championship. According to the MotoGP statistics table^【3】, the 2023 season is recorded as 20 starts, 223 points, and fourth place; the same season also includes four pole positions, three wins, one second place, three third places, and a total of seven podiums.

Transition to Moto2

Move to Moto2 (2024)

Deniz Öncü began competing in Moto2 in the 2024 season. According to the MotoGP statistics table^【4】, his 2024 Moto2 season with Kalex consisted of 17 starts, 49 points, and 20th place; he recorded one podium and one third-place finish during the season.

Moto2 Career

2024 Aragón: First Moto2 Podium

On 1 September 2024, Deniz Öncü finished third in the Moto2 World Championship round at MotorLand Aragón, marking his first podium in Moto2. He qualified fourth for the race weekend. Jake Dixon won the race, Tony Arbolino finished second, and Deniz Öncü crossed the line in third position.

2025 Aragón: First Moto2 Race Victory

On 8 June 2025, Deniz Öncü won the Moto2 race at MotorLand Aragón. Diogo Moreira finished second, just 0.003 seconds behind, and Barry Baltus came in third, 1.949 seconds behind. During qualifying, Öncü recorded the third-fastest time behind Moreira and Baltus, securing a front-row start. He took the lead on the first lap and, with a decisive move in the final corner, crossed the finish line 0.003 seconds ahead of Moreira to claim his first Moto2 victory.

2025 Sachsenring: Second Win of the Season

Deniz Öncü also secured a race victory at Sachsenring during the 2025 season. The team announcement for the 2026 season confirmed that he won two races in 2025: at MotorLand Aragón and Sachsenring.

Deniz Öncü (AA)

Injury Period and Recovery Process

Accident on 12 August 2025 and Treatment in Austria

On 12 August 2025, during a training session in Sakarya Akyazı, Deniz Öncü suffered a crash that resulted in a fractured foot. The injury occurred while preparing for the 13th round of the season in Austria, following his participation in the Czech Republic Grand Prix, the 12th round of the Moto2 season. He underwent surgery and was unable to bear weight on his foot, continuing his rehabilitation in Austria. With five races remaining in the season, his recovery goal was to return for the final three or four races.

2026 Season: Team Change

Agreement with Elf Marc VDS Racing Team

Deniz Öncü will compete for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team in the 2026 season. Aron Canet is also signed to the team on a long-term contract, completing the 2026 Moto2 lineup alongside Öncü.

Preparation for 2026 Season with Boscoscuro

Deniz Öncü will race on a Boscoscuro motorcycle in the 2026 season. According to his MotoGP rider profile, the team is listed as “ELF Marc VDS Racing Team” and the motorcycle as “Boscoscuro”^【5】.