World hails Turkey's Oncu, youngest Grand Prix winner

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL

A 15-year-old Turkish rider -- the youngest ever Grand Prix winner in motorcycling -- has been receiving worldwide reactions as he made history by winning the Moto3 in Spain's Valencia on Sunday.

"A star is born! Can Oncu arrives in Moto3," MotoGP said on their official website following Oncu's achievement in Valencia, Spain on Sunday.

"Wow what a ride from Can Oncu. Seriously impressive stuff for his first race! Congrats Can," Ex-MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner said.

"15-year-old Turkish rider Oncu wins in his 1st Moto3 race," AP said in its headline and added:

"Turkish rider Can Oncu won his maiden Moto3 race to become the youngest grand prix winner in motorcycling at age 15."

"15-year-old makes Moto3 history with stunning debut win," Yahoo said.

"Can Oncu: The youngest winner of a World Cup race at just 15," Spanish sports daily Marca said in its headline.

Spanish dailies also used headlines such as "Future star is Turkish,” "Amazing victory from Turkish teen,” and “Historic day for motorcycling.”

"Sunday saw a historic race in Moto3 as 15-year-old Can Oncu stormed to victory, becoming the youngest winner of a World Cup race in the process," Marca said.

"Yes he can. The wildcard Can Oncu wins his first ever GP on his First Attempt! At 15 years and 115 days old, he's also the youngest ever GP winner!," MotoGP tweeted.

"He's done it! Can Oncu is the winner! The 15-year-old wins the Moto3 to become the youngest ever rider to win a Grand Prix on his debut!," Fox Sports Live tweeted.

- First Turkish winner

"Oncu became the youngest Grand Prix rider and winner in motorcycling," Turkish Motorcycling Federation President Bekir Yunus Ucar told Anadolu Agency on Monday.

"Can Oncu made history for world and Turkish motorsports," Ucar said.

"We will turn this success into opportunity together for more achievements and records," Ucar said.

Oncu also was the first Turkish person who won the Moto3 race, Ucar added.

Making his debut at the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix, Oncu snagged the historic victory by taking advantage of crashes in front of him on a wet track at the Ricardo Tormo circuit.

The Turkish teen won by a margin of more than four seconds after race leader Tony Arbolino crashed out.

British rider Scott Redding -- 15 years and 170 days old when he won his first Moto3 race in 2008 -- held the previous record, but Oncu, at 15 years and 119 days old, edged out the old record.

Oncu also became the first rider to win in his Grand Prix debut since Japan's Noboru Ueda in 1991.

With the record for youngest-ever rider in Moto3 already in hand, Oncu's Grand Prix victory set off celebrations.

"It is incredible to be the first Turkish winner of a Grand Prix, and I'm really happy because of this," Can Oncu said after his victory.