Newsletter

The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

8 Dezember 2017

Okubo completes first positive winter test at Almeria

At the Spanish race track of Almeria, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing WorldSSP rider along side Kenan Sofuoglu in 2018 Hikari Okubo completed a positive first winter test session.

During the three-day test the Japanese covered a 800 km distance overall improving his best time lap by lap while learning how to ride the new bike, as this represented his first ever experience on board a Kawasaki machine.

After this good shake down, Okubo looks with positivity to the next test session where he will be joined also by the Turkish champion who is now still recovering from the pelvis injury he suffered at the end of the 2017 season.

Together with Okubo, test rider Stefano Cruciani was out at Almeria race track. Thanks to his great experience on the Kawasaki ZX-6R after riding for 6 seasons in the Italian Speed Championship (CiV) with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team, Cruciani made his precious contribution in evaluating the new important brakes, gearbox and friction upgrades.

The team from Reggio Emilia will be back out on track at its full strength in Jerez and Portimao for the next Winter test session at the end of January.
 
Hikari Okubo, #78:
“My first ever experience with the Kawasaki has been really positive! I found myself very comfortable on the bike and lap by lap my feeling improved. During this three-day test we worked really hard, but I also enjoyed my time with my new crew. The team is very good and I felt really relaxed and  focused on riding. I can’t wait to be back out on track for the next Winter test!”

Stefano Cruciani, Test Rider:
"Everything is proceeding as planned for the 2018 season. Yesterday (Wednesday), I made 3 sessions of 20 minutes each on the bike covering a distance of 26 laps overall. I was able to test some new parts that we are developing.
We tried a new friction and different swingarm pivots and we got positive feedbacks from them. We are still waiting for other upgrades, but they were not ready for this test. Okubo did also a really good job and his debut on the bike was positive. We are confident and happy about how the new season has started!".