Deniz Öncü (born 26 July 2003) is a Turkishmotorcycle racer,^[1] currently competing in theMoto2 World Championship, for teamRed Bull KTM Ajo. His twin brother,Can, is also a motorcycle racer. Both brothers are mentored by Turkish multi-world champion motorcycle racer,Kenan Sofuoğlu.^[2]

Deniz, and his twin brother Can, competed in the Asia Talent Cup in 2016, Deniz finishing in 10th, and Can in 9th.^[3] They would compete again in 2017, Deniz becoming champion, and Can finishing 3rd.^[4] They both entered the2017 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Deniz finishing 4th, and Can in 3rd.^[5] Just like with the Asia Talent Cup, they would try again in2018, Deniz finishing as runner-up this time, behind his brother Can who was crowned champion.^[6]

For 2018, as well as competing in the Red Bull Rookies Cup, both Can and Deniz joinedAjo Motorsport, and raced in the2018 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship, Deniz finishing in 14th, and Can finishing in 7th with three podiums.^[7]

In2019, Deniz made two wildcard race appearances withRed Bull KTM Ajo after reaching the minimum age of 16 for the world championship class, finishing 18th in Germany, and 17th in the Czech Republic. Can had been permitted to race from the start of the season, despite being below the minimum age of 16, as he received a special dispensation by Dorna after winning the2018 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup,^[8] and the2018 Valencian Grand Prix as a wildcard.^[9] Deniz replaced Can for a further three rounds, after Can suffered an injury at the Misano round, finishing in 16th, 24th, and 19th.

For2020, Öncü made his full season debut withRed Bull KTM Tech3. He achieved nine point scoring finishes, 50 points total, a season's best result being a 6th place in Valencia, and finished 17th in the riders' championship.

Öncü continued withTech3 for the2021 season, and he achieved his first Moto3 podium with a 3rd place finish in Barcelona, followed by two 2nd places in Austria and Aragon. He also scored his first Pole Position in Austria, but had to start from the back of the grid, because his Tech3 team elected to switch him to slick tyres, and finished just seconds after the three-minute board was shown.^[10] After the race in Austin, he was given a two race ban, after being deemed to have caused a massive incident involving clippingJeremy Alcoba's front wheel, who went tumbling across the track, his bike being struck byAndrea Migno andPedro Acosta, who both went airborne.^[11] Luckily all riders involved miraculously walked away from the incident unscathed, and Öncü was replaced byDaniel Holgado for the two race ban. Deniz finished the season with three podiums, 11th in the championship standings, and 95 points.

Öncü competed forRed Bull KTM Ajo with teammate José Antonio Rueda in the 2023 season, and he won his first race in the German Grand Prix at theSachsenring.

Red Bull KTM Ajo has announced the2024 Moto2 rider line-up by promoting Öncü from Moto3 to be paired withCelestino Vietti.^[12]

Öncü won for the first time inMotorLand Aragon as the first ever Turkish rider to win a Moto2 race by 0.003 seconds againstDiogo Moreira in 2025.^[13]

On 17 September, it was announced that Öncü would join theMarc VDS Racing Team for the upcoming 2026 Moto2 season alongsideArón Canet.^[14]

(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position, races initalics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position, races initalics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicate fastest lap)

* Season still in progress.

• Deniz Öncü at MotoGP.com
• Deniz Öncü atAS.com (in Spanish)

• Living people
• 2003 births
• People from Alanya
• Sportspeople from Antalya
• 21st-century Turkish sportsmen
• Turkish motorcycle racers
• Moto3 World Championship riders
• Turkish people of Norwegian descent
• Moto2 World Championship riders

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