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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

7 Julio 2018

Okubo And Morais Ready For Misano Raceday

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing pairing Hikari Okubo and Sheridan Morais entered WorldSSP Superpole 2 today ready to fight for final grid positions in readiness for Sunday’s race. Okubo qualified ninth, and Morais 11th.

Hot weather conditions at Misano, with ambient temperatures almost reaching 30°C, were the backdrop to Superpole qualifying today. Both Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders made it through Superpole 1 to enter Superpole 2, with Okubo finally earning a third row starting position and Morais on the fourth row.
 
Okubo was the top Kawasaki qualifier in Superpole 2, in a session with two riders out in front of all their rivals, but those behind much more closely packed in terms of their best lap times.
 
The 19-lap race is expected to be held in hot conditions on Sunday, with the start scheduled for 11.30 local time in Italy.
 
Hikari Okubo, stated: “My feeling with the bike is improving as I was able to go to into Superpole 2 and I ended up in ninth position, which is not so bad. This morning I had some good data so in Superpole 1 I asked my chief mechanic to change my final gearing and the team worked so quickly, so I want to thank them. The top times are very fast but I think the riders from fourth or fifth place the gap is less, so I think it is possible to have a top five finish. I will do my best tomorrow.”
 
Sheridan Morais stated: “A tough day and I think everyone has had a tough day, because it was so hot. Caricasulo is far ahead but I am sure for him it was not easy either. The times are very, very close so we are competitive that’s for sure, but it will not be easy starting from 11th. We have our work cut out but I think we will be OK. We normally have good starts so I think we will be all right tomorrow.”
 
Anthony West (EAB antwest Racing Kawasaki) finished Superpole 2 in tenth place, splitting the Puccetti riders, while Rob Hartog (Team Hartog Against Cancer) was 23rd after Superpole 1.
 
Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) qualified 28th and Wayne Tessels (Chromeburner Wayne’s Racingteam MTM) 29th. Javier Ezequiel Iturrioz (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) was 32nd in Superpole 1 and his team-mate Christian Stange was 34th.
 
 
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