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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

13 Oktober 2018

Race Preparations Complete For Barbera And Okubo

After competing in the first-ever WorldSSP Superpole 1 session at the all-new San Juan Villicum circuit in Argentina today Kawasaki Puccetti Racing pairing Hector Barbera and Hikari Okubo finished 14th and 16th fastest, respectively. 

A superb track layout, but a very dusty surface, welcomed the WorldSSP riders in the first practice sessions on Friday the 12th of October, with Barbera 12th and Okubo 17th at that early stage.
 
Today, after an intense Superpole 1 session, Barbera narrowly missed advancing into Superpole 2, finishing 14th overall. Barbera will now launch off the fifth row of the grid for what will be only his third ever WorldSSP event.
 
Okubo pushed hard in the first Superpole session, running off track at one point, and finished his pre-race preparations 16th overall. He will start from the sixth row of the grid.
 
The first WorldSSP race to be held in South America will take place at 14.30 local time tomorrow, for a duration of 19-laps.
 
Hector Barbera stated: “I think I had a bike to make it into Superpole 2 but anyway I think I can have a good ride in the race tomorrow. This track is fantastic to ride. My feeling is better with every pit exit. I think maybe I did not find a good moment to push, but the bike is better for me and the feeling is coming. I think we have a good race pace and I want to have my best race of the year in this category tomorrow.”
 
Hikari Okubo, stated: “A difficult day again because the lap time was a bit behind the top riders, so that is a big problem. To finish in 16th was my worst qualifying position so far. I am not happy about that so we need to think again. It is very important to push hard in tomorrow’s race. I will try my best again.”
 
Christian Stange (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) was 15th in Superpole 1, just edging out Okubo. Local rider Javier Ezequiel Iturrioz (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) was 20th on the grid for his home race. Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) placed 21st. Glenn van Straalen (EAB antwest Kawasaki) crashed out of contention for a qualifying place in Superpole 1, and starts the race from 23rd position on the grid.
 
 
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