The last on-track contest of the year proved to be full of drama from the outset with a crash from one rival rider puncturing the trackside safety airfence and bringing out the red flags while repairs were made.
After this delay the race was re-scheduled for only seven laps, not the originally expected 17.
This gave Can the opportunity to strike from his seventh place on the restarted grid, pushing his way up to third and chasing eventual second place rider Stefano Manzi all the way to the flag.
This was Can’s third podium finish of the season, ending 2023 on a high point after an injury affected year - which nonetheless delivered his first career race win at the Mandalika circuit in Round Two.
He ends the season 13th in the points table, even after missing five full race weekends and not being fully fit in the most recent four.
Can has reconfirmed with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing squad for 2024, allowing him a long winter period to continue his recovery before action starts again at Phillip Island in Australia, in the final weekend of February.
Can Öncü, stated: “My arm is not 100% but I can do this job and I am very happy to take a podium here. I have so many thanks to say. Kenan Sofuoglu pushes me hard and Manuel Puccetti pushes me hard. Even sometimes when I feel like I will give up Kenan says to me that I can do much better. I think this podium is the result of this. I knew that finishing P10, P12 is not my place, but I was thinking that I could not do more. They told me I could. I listened to a story from early in Kenan’s career and all night I was thinking about it. I am so happy to be back on the podium after such a long time. I will work hard in the winter to make myself stronger. Hopefully we will smile a lot next year with everyone.”
Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) ended up a strong fourth place in the final race of the year. He completed his season in 12th position overall.
Leonardo Taccini (Vince64 by Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) was 20th today.
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