Il Team Kawasaki Puccetti Racing è fiero di poter annunciare che Jikari Okubo farà parte del team per il 2018. Il 24enne pilota giapponese (campione Asia Dream Cup 2012 e attualmente 15 in classifica nel mondiale WorldSSP) gareggerò accanto al campione turco del team Kenan Sofuoglu a bordo della Kawasaki ZX-6R nel mondiale Supersport.
Manuel Puccetti, Team Principal:
“Siamo davvero orgogliosi di poter annunciare la nostra squadra in WSSP 2018. Durante questa stagione Hikari ha dimostrato di essere un pilota con un elevato potenziale e siamo convinti che il suo arrivo nella nostra squadra ci porterà maggior forza. Correrà a fianco di Kenan Sofuoglu, che ha già firmato con noi per il prossimo anno.Daremo ad Hikari il nostro miglior supporto e grazie anche alla nostra esperienza siamo convinti che potremo aiutarlo a mostrare il suo talento.”
Hikari Obuko:
“Being part of the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team next season makes me really happy. My dream is to become the first WorldSSP Japanese champion one day. My objective is to win and I know that this choice will give me all what I need to grow my level and to become competitive. I have never ridden a Kawasaki machine before, but I know that I will learn fast and that I will be able to complete a successful season”.
Hikari Okubo, biography:
Hikari Obuko was born on 11th August 1993 in Tokyo (Japan). His career started in the All Japan Road Race Championship GP125 in 2008 where he finished in 20th place. After just two years, in 2010 the young Japanese rider secured his first Japanese championship title and got the chance to compete as wild card in the 125cc World Championship at the Japanese round at Motegi where he finished in 16th position.
In 2011, Okubo repeated the experience taking part to the Japanese GP where he finished in 17th.
In 2012 he became Asian Champion after winning the Asia Dream Cup. In the next following two years, Okubo participated again to the All Japan Road Race Championship GP125, while in 2015 he took part to the Japanese Supersport 600cc championship, where he finished in 3rd place.
In 2016 he made his debut in WorldSSP. He finished in 21st position his season as a rookie. The Japanese rider is currently 15th in the championship standings having a 6th place conquered at Chang (Thailand) as is best seasonal result so far.
