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27 Syyskuu 2018

Opportunity Awaits For Okubo And Barbera

The 2018 WorldSSP championship moves from Portugal to France this weekend, with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team riders Hector Barbera and Hikari Okubo looking to put in season-best performances.

The final European-based round of the 2018 season, before the last two races in Argentina and Qatar, will take place around the long-established WorldSSP venue of Magny Cours, located in central France.
 
Magny Cours will be a new track for Barbera to face this weekend, in what will be only his second WorldSSP race after joining the team in the summer break. He finished a creditable tenth in his first competitive weekend at Portimao, despite making a less than ideal tyre choice for the race. He is 23rd in the championship right now, with three more points scoring opportunities up for grabs.
 
Okubo was the top Kawasaki rider at Portimao and as a result he sits 15th in the championship overall. His aim this weekend is to qualify well and then take away his best result since he joined Kawasaki this season. His best placement so far in 2018 is ninth, which he has recorded at the two most recent races in Misano and Portimao.
 
With the European sector of the overall campaign terminating at Magny Cours this weekend, the championship will now head to the all-new El Villicum Circuit in Argentina for round 11, to be held between the 12th and the 14th of October.
 
Hikari Okubo, stated: “I took a good feeling away from Portuguese round last time we raced. For sure I was not happy with the final race result but it was a very important finish. I like the Magny Cours track so I think we can do some good work again this weekend. I want get my best result of the season so far in France and I think that is a possibility.”
 
Hector Barbera stated: “I feel ready for this race. After the experience I had at Portimao, now we are not really starting from zero anymore. I am confident it will be a good weekend. I am really keen to ride at Magny Cours, which is a new track for me. I can’t wait to be back on my new bike again. I hope the weather will be nice since, at this time of year in France, it is famous for not always having good weather. But even in the rain I have always been strong, so I am positive!”
 
Rob Hartog (Team Hartog Against Cancer) remains 14th overall and continues to lead the FIM Europe Supersport Cup standings. This is a class-within-a-class designed for riders who only compete in the European-based rounds of the championship.
 
Wayne Tessels (Chromeburner Wayne’s Racingteam MTM) is now 32nd in the WorldSSP standings at present. Christian Stange and Javier Ezequiel Iturrioz (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) will join another regular rider, Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) at Magny Cours. Stange scored his first two championship points at Portimao, and is 30th overall.
 
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