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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

29 September 2018

Superpole Seventh For Okubo

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team riders Hikari Okubo and Hector Barbera finished their WorldSSP Superpole qualifying sessions in seventh and 15th place respectively, enjoying the good weather than has been ever-present at the Magny Cours round this year.

As the riders now make their final preparations for the last European-based race of the 2018 season, to be held on Sunday the 30th of September at 13.45 local time, Hikari will start from the third row and Hector from the fifth row.
 
At a track that was all new for him, in only his second race weekend with his Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team, Barbera had finished Friday qualifying 16th, improving one place in Superpole 1.
 
Okubo qualified directly into Superpole 2 and went from eighth after regular qualifying to seventh in Superpole.
 
The aim for each Kawasaki Puccetti rider on Sunday is to make a strong start and stay with the fastest riders in the early laps, for a 19 lap race that is expected to be conducted in good weather conditions.
 
Hikari Okubo, stated: “Today was better because I got to make my best lap time, a second faster than before. My target was the second row, inside the top six, but I was seventh - so I am not that happy. But, really, I feel much better about everything today so I think I am able to do a good race on Sunday.”
 
Hector Barbera stated: “This track is a little bit more easy than Portimao but I am not really happy. Every time I go on the circuit it is better. We have made changes to my set up especially at the front. I have more feeling but I also have to just spend more time riding my bike. The bike is very good but I need to try more things. Each time I take to the track I understand more, including the tyres, although every reference on the track is new for me. I am ready for tomorrow and I think in this moment I have a better bike to start to race with.”
 
Rob Hartog (Team Hartog Against Cancer) was 14th in Superpole 1, one place ahead of Barbera.
 
Wayne Tessels (Chromeburner Wayne’s Racingteam MTM) was 18th, Christian Stange (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) 19th and new rider for the EAB antwest Racing Kawasaki team, Kevin van Leuven, was 20t,h in a field of 30 riders. Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) placed 25th and Javier Ezequiel Iturrioz (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) 26th on the grid.
 
                                              #NinjaSpirit