Kawasaki expects 2022 WorldSSP title challenge from Can Oncu

Can Oncu heads into the 2022 WorldSSP season with championship aspirations placed upon him from team boss Manuel Puccetti. 

Oncu, who will be competing in his third WorldSSP campaign this season, has yet to taste victory in the intermediate class. However, the former Moto3 race winner was very impressive in 2021 as he climbed three podiums on machinery that was particularly unfavoured compared to world champions Yamaha. 

Dominque Aegerter (2021 world champion), Steven Odendaal, Manuel Gonzalez, Jules Cluzel and Randy Krummenacher won 20 of the 21 races between them for the Japanese manufacturer, while Raffaele De Rosa took Kawasaki’s one and only win during the final race of the season in Mandalika. 

With Ducati and Triumph returning to the series in 2022, along with MV Agusta bringing a revamped F3 800 machine, wins could be even tougher to come by for Kawasaki. 

But with that said, it hasn’t stopped Puccetti Kawasaki team owner, Manuel, from expecting a title charge from Oncu, who should he deliver such a season or even a year where he fights for wins consistently, then a move to WorldSBK could beckon for the 18 year-old. 

Oncu has just finished the first pre-season test of 2022 which took place at Jerez - finished second on both days to Niki Tuuli. 

"Can [Oncu], of course, is one of the riders that we believe will fight for the championship this year," Puccetti told the official World Superbike website. "This is his third season on the Kawasaki and we really expect a lot from him. 

"Today, it was a very good day for him. We did a lot of laps and he did his best lap time ever at this track today [Jerez]. 

"He found a very good package and very high confidence. He tested many things including new brake discs and brake pumps and many other improvements on the bike. I think the bike has made a good step."