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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

3 April 2019

European Adventures Begin For Mahias And Okubo

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing partners Hikari Okubo and Lucas Mahias are now approaching the first European round of the 2019 Supersport World Championship; the third event of the season so far. Raceday will be on Sunday the seventh of April, at the 5.077km long Motorland Aragon Circuit in Spain.

After some strong recent performances, particularly in the early stages of the most recent race in Thailand, Okubo is now fifth overall in the championship rankings. Two races into the 12-round season, Hikari has equalled his career best of sixth place in a WorldSSP race on each occasion.
 
After the opening rounds for Mahias, each of which was affected by regulatory interventions that affected his finishing position, the 2017 WorldSSP Champion is in overall ninth place in the championship table. Lucas aims for a top-level finish in Spain at a circuit he won a race at during his championship-winning season.
 
Motorland Aragon, designed and built on a grand scale, features challenges of all kinds, including elevation changes, a long back straight and wide chicanes, all of which offer potential passing opportunities.  
 
After the 16-lap race is concluded in Spain the paddock will immediately relocate to Assen in the Netherlands, for the fourth round of the championship, to be held between the 12th and the 14th of April.
 
Lucas Mahias stated: “My mind was on the Aragon round even before we got to Thailand. Unfortunately my last race was compromised by a regulatory issue that forced me to start from the last row of the grid. I made up many places during the race, lapping at the same pace as the fastest guys. That shows that my feeling with the bike is improving and that we need to continue to work to achieve the kind of results we deserve.”
 
Hikari Okubo, stated: “Last year my Aragon race was affected by a technical problem and so I’m keen to make up for that. I like the track and know I can achieve a good result. The Buriram race proved that I can compete for the top positions and that I have similar pace to the fastest guys. I want to consolidate that performance when we get to Spain and try to improve on the Thai results.”
 
Ayrton Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) will have a new teammate this weekend, as three-time WorldSSP race winner Kyle Smith joins him for all the rounds of the FIM Europe Supersport Cup. Rob Hartog (Team Hartog – Against Cancer Kawasaki) will be back in action, alongside regular riders Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team Kawasaki) and Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki). Frenchman Gaetan Matern (Flembbo Leader Team Kawasaki) joins the ranks of the ESS riders this weekend.
 
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