Deniz Oncu tops Moto2 FP2 as Mario Aji secures P4 in Buriram

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Deniz Oncu sets the fastest time in FP2, while Mario Aji delivers a strong performance to finish fourth in Buriram.

Deniz Öncü of Turkey and Red Bull KTM Ajo rides during the free practice session of the MotoGP PT Grand Prix of Thailand at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, on February 28, 2025. Photo by Steve Wobser/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad and Yuni Utomo

As Moto2 FP2 got underway in Buriram, rising temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius forced riders to push early for their best lap times before returning to the pits to preserve their tires and cool down. The session saw intense battles for the top spot, with multiple lead changes and late improvements defining the final standings.

Zonta van der Goorberg was the first to set the pace, recording a 1:34.951, while Mario Suryo Aji continued his impressive form. The Indonesian Honda Team Asia rider initially climbed from P11 to P6 before further improving his lap to move into second place, just 0.137 seconds behind the Dutch rider.

However, the lead changed hands ten minutes later when Aron Canet posted a time of 1:34.900, relegating Mario Aji to P3. Marcos Ramirez and Manuel Gonzalez completed the top five at this stage of the session.

The session was briefly disrupted by yellow flags after Ivan Ortola crashed at Turn 9 while attempting to break into the top 20. The incident slowed down several riders’ efforts to improve their times.

Mario Aji fights in the top five

Mario Suryo Aji of Indonesia and Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rounds the bend during the free practice session of the MotoGP of Thailand at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, on February 28, 2025. Photo by Mirco Lazzari/Getty Images

As the session progressed, the top five positions remained relatively stable. Celestino Vietti, a VR46 Academy rider, showed his pace in the final eight minutes, climbing to fourth and increasing the pressure on Mario Aji.

Meanwhile, Friday’s fastest rider, Deniz Oncu, struggled to maintain his dominant form early in FP2. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider found himself fluctuating between P8 and P9, facing challenges from Barry Baltus and Albert Arenas. Filip Salac rounded out the top 10 at this stage.

With just two minutes remaining, Oncu made a late charge, showcasing his raw speed. The Turkish rider clocked a 1:34.720, moving to the top of the standings and dropping Canet to P2. His surge also affected Mario Aji, who slipped to fourth after setting a best time of 1:35.012.

Competitive field ahead of Moto2 qualifying

By the end of FP2, Vietti secured fifth place, followed by Baltus, Gonzalez, Ramirez, Jorge Navarro, and Arenas in the top 10. Despite missing out on a top-three spot, Mario Aji displayed a highly competitive performance, proving his ability to challenge the frontrunners in the fiercely contested Moto2 category.

With his strong showing in FP2, Aji carries solid momentum into the upcoming qualifying session, where he aims to secure a favorable starting position for the main race in Buriram.

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