Turkish motorsport is gearing up for a landmark weekend as Deniz Öncü returns to the monitor following his historic Moto2 win, and Kadir Erbay readies for his worldwide debut within the Spanish Superbike Championship.
Öncü, 21, heads to Italy’s legendary Mugello Circuit seeking to again up his groundbreaking victory on the Aragon Grand Prix earlier this month, the place he edged out the win by a mere 0.003 seconds – the closest end in Moto2 historical past. It was a watershed second for Turkish motorcycling, and the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider now goals to show it wasn’t a one-off.
“I’ve got good memories here,” Öncü mentioned forward of Sunday’s 19-lap race. “We’ve been working on setup since Barcelona and feel confident heading into Mugello.”
Racing on a Boscoscuro chassis with a Triumph 765cc triple, Öncü enters the ninth spherical of the Moto2 World Championship with rising momentum, bolstered by latest take a look at knowledge and a chassis setup targeted on late-race tire administration.
The Mugello circuit, recognized for its 1.1km straight and punishing elevation shifts, guarantees a stiff problem – but additionally an opportunity for Öncü to cement his place among the many class’s elite.
His 2025 season marks a breakout marketing campaign after years of grinding in Moto3, the place he earned respect however by no means cracked the highest step.
Mentored by Turkish racing legends Kenan Sofuoğlu and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Öncü’s trajectory is now carefully watched throughout the paddock.
Turkish followers, nonetheless buzzing from his Aragon triumph, will once more tune in by way of S Sport for Sunday’s race, scheduled for 1:15 p.m. native time.
Meanwhile, Kadir Erbay, one other product of Türkiye’s fast-growing motorsport system, is ready to make his mark in Spain.
The 600cc Supersport rider will line up on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya within the ESBK’s Next Generation class, driving for Spain’s I+DENT Racing group in what will likely be his debut within the collection.
A relative newcomer to the worldwide scene, Erbay has climbed by way of home championships and now faces a double-header weekend – Race 1 on Saturday at 4:40 p.m., Race 2 on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (native occasions).
His Yamaha R6 will go toe-to-toe with a aggressive grid that includes high Spanish and European expertise.
Though his racing resume stays modest, the TMF sees Erbay as a rider with potential.
With sturdy performances in Barcelona, he might stake a declare for additional worldwide begins, becoming a member of the rising wave of Turkish riders transferring past nationwide borders.
Öncü and Erbay are a part of a era formed by Sofuoğlu’s Supersport dynasty and Razgatlıoğlu’s Superbike reign.
That legacy now fuels Türkiye’s presence throughout racing courses – from grassroots circuits to MotoGP-bound stars.
With TMF assist and rising visibility, the nation’s footprint in two-wheeled motorsport has by no means been bigger.
Source: www.dailysabah.com