Red Bull KTM Ajo lineup for the 2018 FIM CEV Junior World Championship season undertake their first laps at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo structure’s lineup for the 2018 FIM CEV Junior World Championship completed two days of testing on Monday and Tuesday –the final test before the mandatory winter break in December and January. Deniz and Can Öncü had previously been on their KTM Moto3 machine last week at Jerez, and the Turkish twins adapted well to a new track in their latest test.

Positive conditions allowed for plenty of track time alongside the Moto3 and Moto2 World Championship riders, although Can was unable to make the most of the favourable weather: After he had ended yesterday with a creditable time of 1:40.404, today he was only able to complete 6 laps, suffering from pain in his right arm from saving a highside on Monday. Deniz used the two days to make gradual changes to the setup of his KTM, ending the test with a best time of 1:41.657.

Following their first week with Moto3 machinery, the pair will return to Turkey to prepare for next season, looking to be as ready as possible for what lies ahead in 2018.

#53 – Deniz Öncü
“We’ve had two good days of testing in Valencia. I like the circuit a lot, even though it was my first time here. I have suffered some crashes, but I’m fine. The team have worked very well and we have improved, although we have not achieved the times that we would have liked. We have worked on the setup of the bike progressively and, if we have had any setbacks, we have been able to fix them. I’m looking forward to starting competing next year.”

#61 – Can Öncü
“It was very good to be able to come here to Valencia after our first contact with the Moto3 bike at Jerez. It was the first time I had ridden here. It was nice to see my feeling on the bike improving all the time. It took us a few laps to find the best setup for the suspension yesterday, but once we found it, we were fast already. We could even race now! At the end of the day I saved a crash, but I noticed some pain in my right arm that prevented me from braking today. I’m looking forward to the 2018 tests.”

Photo credit – Lucas Andreu