Surprise: Can Öncü (23) to ride a Yamaha in the British Supersport series

The Supersport World Championship is on a six-week break, but Can Öncü has found an interesting way to pass the time in the British Supersport series. The Turkish rider will be stepping in for the injured Ben Currie at the top-tier McAMS team during the race weekend at Thruxton (14 to 16 August). The Englishman suffered a horrific crash at Oulton Park, sustaining, amongst other things, a serious lung injury.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be making my debut in the British Supersport Championship with McAMS Yamaha at Thruxton this coming weekend,” said the Ten Kate Yamaha rider, commenting on his participation. “Stepping in for an injured rider is never ideal, but I’m grateful for the opportunity and wish Ben all the best for his recovery. I’ll try to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible, push to the limit, represent Yamaha to the best of my ability and deliver my best performance throughout the weekend. It’ll be a great experience, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”

For Öncü, the foray into the BSB is both an opportunity and a risk. The BSB is regarded as the strongest national series, featuring some very distinctive circuits. As the current Supersport World Championship runner-up, expectations of him are high, but the 23-year-old is unfamiliar with both the Yamaha R9 in BSB specification and the Thruxton circuit.

To prepare, the McAMS team organised a test at the iconic circuit on Friday this week. Team principal Steve Rodgers is hoping that Öncü will also provide valuable feedback on potential improvements to the R9.

“Can brings a wealth of experience to the table, and we know he’ll make the most of every session. Of the British circuits, Thruxton is probably one of the easier ones to learn, but at the same time it’s quite tricky because it’s so fast,” said Rodgers. “His presence in the pits will also be valuable from a development perspective. His feedback and experience will be crucial as we continue to develop the package and work closely with Harry Truelove. Many thanks to Yamaha Motor Europe and Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing for making his participation possible!”

Incidentally, Öncü will also be meeting his World Championship colleague Oli Bayliss at Thruxton, who is racing for Macadam Triumph.