Hikari Okubo Explained

Hikari Okubo
Nationality:Japanese
Birth Date:11 August 1993
Birth Place:Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
Current Team:Tech3 E-Racing
Bike Number:78
Motoe Active Years:-
Motoe Manufacturers:Energica, Ducati
Motoe Race Starts:35
Motoe Race Wins:0
Motoe Podiums:1
Motoe Poles:0
Motoe Fastest Laps:0
Motoe Total Points:219.5
Motoe Last Season:2023
Motoe Last Position:13th (79 pts)
Moto3 Manufacturers:Honda
Moto3 Championships:0
Moto3 Race Starts:1
Moto3 Race Wins:0
Moto3 Podiums:0
Moto3 Poles:0
Moto3 Fastest Laps:0
Moto3 Total Points:0
Moto3 Last Season:2014
Moto3 Last Position:NC (0 pts)
125 Active Years:
125 Manufacturers:Honda
125 Championships:0
125 Race Starts:2
125 Race Wins:0
125 Podiums:0
125 Poles:0
125 Fastest Laps:0
125 Total Points:0
125 Last Season:2011
125 Last Position:NC (0 pts)
Ss Active Years:
Ss Manufacturers:Honda, Kawasaki
Ss Championships:0
Ss Last Season:2020
Ss Last Position:22nd (12 pts)
Ss Race Starts:57
Ss Race Wins:0
Ss Podiums:0
Ss Poles:0
Ss Fastest Laps:0
Ss Total Points:217

is a Japanese motorcycle racer who last competed in the MotoE World Championship for Tech3 E-Racing.[1] He has also competed in the Supersport World Championship aboard a Honda CBR600RR.

Career

All Japan Road Race GP125/GP3 Championship

Born in the city of Kodaira in Tokyo,[2] Okubo started in the All Japan Road Race Championship GP125 class in 2008, riding for Endurance Honda, where he finished the season in 20th place overall with a best result of 13th at Tsukuba. For 2009 Okubo remained in the GP125 class but joined the 18 Garage Racing Team once again on a Honda. 2009 saw a significant improvement from 2008, with sixth overall in the championship; his best result in 2009 was sixth position at Okayama. Okubo once again rode with the 18 Garage Racing Team aboard a Honda in 2010, staying in the newly renamed J-GP3 class. Okubo opened the season with his first victory in the Japanese championship at Tsukuba, this was followed by another victory at Motegi, these victories along with two other podiums were enough to secure his first Japanese championship title. Okubo also competed in his first 125cc World Championship event as a wildcard at the Japanese round at Motegi, he qualified in 26th and finished the race just out of the points in 16th position. Deciding to try to defend his title in 2011, Okubo stayed in the J-GP3 class, along with 18 Garage Racing Team for the third consecutive year. Okubo only finished two of the five races, as he could only finish tenth overall. He once again received a wildcard entry to the 125cc World Championship for the Japanese round held at Motegi, he qualified 25th and finished just outside the points again in 17th.

Asia Dream Cup

Deciding not to remain in the Japanese championship in 2012, Okubo joined the one-make Asia Dream Cup aboard a Honda CBR250 for the inaugural season. The Asia Dream Cup, which runs alongside the Asia Road Racing Championship, spanned across six different countries in Asia. Okubo was engaged in an all out battle with fellow Japanese rider Hiroki Ono, which Okubo prevailed in by ten points ahead of Ono.[3]

Return to All Japan Road Race GP3

For 2013, Okubo returned to the Japanese championship to try and recapture the J-GP3 title with the Hot Racing Honda squad, he eventually finished third overall with five third-place finishes his best results. He remained in the J-GP3 class with Hot Racing aboard a Honda NSF250R in 2014, he finished the season in sixth overall, with a second-place finish at Motegi being his best result. He also received a wildcard for the Motegi round of the 2014 Moto3 World Championship, he failed to finish the race after qualifying 26th.

All Japan Road Race ST600 Championship

In 2015 he made a class change as he stepped up to the ST600 series with Kohara Racing riding a stock Honda CBR600RR, he finished the season third overall after two podium finishes in the final rounds of the season at Okayama and Suzuka.

Supersport World Championship

In November 2015, it was announced that Okubo had signed to race for CIA Landlord Insurance Honda in the 2016 Supersport World Championship season, riding a Honda CBR600RR.[4] He finished his rookie season 21st overall, scoring points in six of the twelve races. His best finish result was 10th place at EuroSpeedway Lausitz. He remained in the class for the 2017 season, riding a Honda CBR600RR. He improved his final championship position to 15th overall, highlighted by a 6th place at Buriram International Circuit. In 2018 he switched to the Puccetti Racing squad, riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R. Okubo finished in 13th place in the championship, with 8th place at Circuito San Juan Villicum his best result. Okubo remained with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing in 2019.

MotoE World Cup

On February 2, 2021, it was announced that Okubo will compete in the 2021 MotoE World Cup as part of Avant Ajo MotoE, replacing Niki Tuuli.[5]

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

SeasonClassMotorcycleTeamRaceWinPodiumPoleFLapPtsPlcd
125ccHonda18 Garage Racing Team100000NC
125ccHonda18 Garage Racing Team100000NC
Moto3HondaHot Racing with I-Factory100000NC
MotoEEnergicaAvant Ajo MotoE700004511th
MotoEEnergica Ego CorsaAvant Ajo MotoE12010095.56th
MotoEDucati V21LTech3 E-Racing1600007913th
Total380100219.5

By class

ClassSeasons1st GP1st Pod1st WinRaceWinPodiumsPoleFLapPtsWChmp
125cc2010–20112010 Japan2000000
Moto320142014 Japan1000000
MotoE2021–present2021 Spain2022 France350100219.50
Total2010–2011, 2014, 2021–present380100219.50

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearClassBike123456789101112131415161718PosPts
2010125ccHondaQATSPAFRAITAGBRNEDCATGERCZEINPRSMARAJPN
MALAUSPORVALNC0
2011125ccHondaQATSPAPORFRACATGBRNEDITAGERCZEINPRSMARAJPN
AUSMALVALNC0
Moto3HondaQATAMEARGSPAFRAITACATNEDGERINPCZEGBRRSMARAJPN
AUSMALVALNC0
MotoEEnergicaSPA
FRA
CAT
NED
AUT
RSM1
RSM2
11th45
MotoEEnergicaSPA1
SPA2
FRA1
FRA2
ITA1
ITA2
NED1
NED2
AUT1
AUT2
RSM1
RSM2
6th95.5
MotoEDucatiFRA1
FRA2
ITA1
ITA2
GER1
GER2
NED1
NED2
GBR1
GBR2
AUT1
AUT2
CAT1
CAT2
RSM1
RSM2
13th79
Half points awarded as less than two thirds of the race distance (but at least three full laps) was completed.

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearBike123456789101112131415PosPts
2016HondaAUS
THA
SPA
NED
ITA
MAL
GBR
ITA
GER
FRA
SPA
QAT
21st19
2017HondaAUS
THA
SPA
NED
ITA
GBR
ITA
GER
POR
FRA
SPA
QAT
15th42
2018KawasakiAUS
THA
SPA
NED
ITA
GBR
CZE
ITA
POR
FRA
ARG
QAT
13th39
2019KawasakiAUS
THA
SPA
NED
ITA
SPA
ITA
GBR
POR
FRA
ARG
QAT
5th105
2020HondaAUS
SPA
SPA
PORPORSPA
SPA
SPA
SPA
SPASPAFRA
FRA
POR
POR
22nd12

CIV National 600

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ライダープロフィール #39 大久保 光. superbike.jp. MFJ. 29 February 2016. Japanese. https://web.archive.org/web/20180713140344/http://www.superbike.jp/datacenter/rider_.php?year=2015&rider_id=1182. 13 July 2018.
  2. Web site: Wild card riders profile. mobilityland.co.jp. Twin Ring Motegi. 17 September 2010. 7 December 2016.
  3. Web site: Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship 2012 – Overall championship standings – Asia Dream Cup. asiaroadracing.com. Asia Road Racing. 6 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20150417092107/http://asiaroadracing.com/images/result/2012/losail_adcst.jpg. 17 April 2015.
  4. News: Japanese youngster completes CIA Honda line-up. Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 30 November 2015. 6 April 2016.
  5. News: Hikari Okubo takes over from Niki Tuuli at Ajo for MotoE in 2021. Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 2 February 2021. 10 June 2021.