Red Bull KTM Ajo have announced that Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) and their current Moto3™ star, Deniz Öncü, will form their Moto2™ World Championship team in 2024.
Öncü, 20 years old and a former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race winner, celebrated his first Grand Prix victories with the team and the KTM RC4 in Moto3™ this year. The fast, aggressive Turk has already notched 11 podium finishes in the division and 2023 has been his third campaign of World Championship education. He is currently fourth in the Moto3™ series and part of the close chase for the title. Öncü’s ability, physicality, attitude and burgeoning experience means he is eager to take his career to the next level.
BREAKING NEWS! 🚨
— Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (@KTM_Racing) September 12, 2023
Moto2™ refresh for @RedBull_KTM_Ajo as Deniz Öncü takes his next steps with the KTM GP Academy and Celestino Vietti joins the program. 🔥#KTM #ReadyToRace #Moto2 pic.twitter.com/BoF2NnVz9I
Vietti already has six GP wins from both the Moto3™ and Moto2™ categories and has been learning the intricacies of Moto2™ in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Last year his three triumphs marked a clear capacity to set the pace in the Championship and he has again risen to the top of the podium during 2023 to date. Vietti has been part of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy effort and now joins the KTM scheme to achieve the next goals of his career.
The news also means that Pedro Acosta’s much-anticipated move up to MotoGP™ is edging ever closer. However, where the current Moto2™ World Championship leader will be racing is something yet to be announced by KTM, as the debate as to who will be at GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 in 2024 rumbles on.
Deniz Öncü: “I'm very happy to be moving up to Moto2 with Red Bull KTM Ajo. The main goal this season is to improve in Moto3 and get good results to fight for the title. We are doing really well together and have victories in Germany and Austria so far. I just want to thank Aki, KTM and Red Bull for their confidence in me and for this opportunity. Thanks also to my manager, Kenan Sofuoğlu, for always supporting me.”
Celestino Vietti: “I’m super-excited. It’s a great opportunity for me so I am very happy about the news. I have to say thanks to KTM and Aki Ajo for believing in me. Also, thanks to VR46 Riders Academy Management, as without them none of this would be possible. We still have a way to go before the end of this season, so I have to finish this one the best way with my current team. They helped me to achieve many great results this year. It will also enable me to have the confidence to start the new season well. Thank you so much and see you in 2024.”
Aki Ajo, Team Principal: “The last few years in Moto2 have been very successful for us and of course we have enjoyed working with all these different riders. This year with Pedro and Albert [Arenas] has been very intense and enjoyable; both have improved a lot, we have achieved many podiums and we are even top of the standings. Next year we have a new line-up: Deniz Öncü and Celestino Vietti.
“I have to say that we are excited to have a great mix of experience in this class and young talent with Deniz, who we already know. I think this kind of combination is a really good chance for us to be very successful in Moto2 next year. Celestino has shown in the last seasons that he is one of the top riders in the class. Of course, we are very happy to have him on our team alongside Deniz, who is one of the fastest riders in Moto3. The combination will be great, and we are excited about it.”