The Avant Ajo MotoE rider places twelfth in qualifying

Hikari Okubo started the fifth round of the FIM MotoE World Cup this Friday at the Austrian Red Bull Ring circuit. After free practice, Okubo took part in Q1, but was unable to make it into Q2. He will start from twelfth position on Saturday race.

The first free practice was held in the rain. The Japanese Avant Ajo MotoE rider worked to find a good feeling in delicate track conditions and improved his times lap after lap. His best was set on his last attempt, although it was canceled and would not count. Finally, he was thirteenth with a time of 1:52.313, clocked on his seventh lap.

In FP2, Okubo started with a good feeling, leading the way. In much more favourable track conditions than in the morning, he was able to improve his times, and was eleventh with a 1:43.075 on his penultimate lap.

The Avant Ajo MotoE rider gave 100% to qualify move out of Q1, although he was finally fourth in the session with a time of 1:42.057. He will take off from the fourth row of the grid in Austria.

The first MotoE race will take place at 4:25 PM, while the second will be on Sunday at 3:30 PM. Both will be held over six laps.

Results (Qualifying session)
1. Eric Granado 1:41.390
2. Mattia Casadei 1:41.530 +0.140
3. Matteo Ferrari 1:41.569 +0.179
4. Kevin Zannoni 1:41.596 +0.206
5. Dominique Aegerter 1:41.642 +0.252
12. Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo) 1:42.057 (Q1 time)

#78 HIKARI OKUBO

“I didn’t have a bad feeling today. The conditions in FP1 and FP2 were very different, but even so we are close. I fought to qualify for Q2; it wasn’t possible but I trust that tomorrow we can have a good race and fight for the podium.”