Deniz Öncü heads to Motegi for the 2026 Moto2 Japanese Grand Prix
Turkish rider Deniz Öncü will compete at the Mobility Resort Motegi weekend, the 16th round of the 2026 Moto2 World Championship.
Deniz Öncü, the 23-year-old Turkish Moto2 competitor, travels to Japan for the 16th round of the 2026 championship at Mobility Resort Motegi. The venue features a 4.801-kilometre layout with 14 corners and a 762-metre straight, demanding strong braking stability and acceleration. Öncü, now riding for ELF Marc VDS after moving from Red Bull KTM Ajo, is adapting to the Boscoscuro bike following two seasons on Kalex machines.
His breakthrough came in 2025 with historic wins at Aragon and the Sachsenring, though a left-leg injury forced him to miss the final races, leaving him 12th overall with 100 points. The Motegi weekend includes a Saturday qualifying session at 7:40 a.m. Turkey time and a Sunday race at 6:15 a.m., with the track’s recent resurfacing expected to influence grip and tire wear. Teams and Pirelli will focus on setup choices to manage the 19-lap, 91.22-kilometre distance.
