Hikari Okubo (大久保光, Ōkubo Hikari, born 11 August 1993) is a Japanese motorcycle racer who last competed in the MotoE World Championship for Tech3 E-Racing.[1] He has also competed in the Supersport World Championship aboard a Honda CBR600RR.

Hikari Okubo
Okubo in 2013
NationalityJapanese
Born (1993-08-11) 11 August 1993 (age 31)
Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
Current teamTech3 E-Racing
Bike number78
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Moto3 World Championship
Active years2014
ManufacturersHonda
Championships0
2014 championship positionNC (0 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
1 0 0 0 0 0
125cc World Championship
Active years20102011
ManufacturersHonda
Championships0
2011 championship positionNC (0 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
2 0 0 0 0 0
MotoE World Championship
Active years2021-
ManufacturersEnergica, Ducati
2023 championship position13th (79 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
35 0 1 0 0 219.5
Supersport World Championship
Active years20162020,2024
ManufacturersHonda, Kawasaki
Championships0
2024 championship position44th (0 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
63 0 0 0 0 217

Career

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All Japan Road Race GP125/GP3 Championship

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Born in the city of Kodaira in Tokyo,[2] Okubo started in the All Japan Road Race Championship GP125 class in 2008, riding for Endurance Honda, where he finished the season in 20th place overall with a best result of 13th at Tsukuba. For 2009 Okubo remained in the GP125 class but joined the 18 Garage Racing Team once again on a Honda. 2009 saw a significant improvement from 2008, with sixth overall in the championship; his best result in 2009 was sixth position at Okayama. Okubo once again rode with the 18 Garage Racing Team aboard a Honda in 2010, staying in the newly renamed J-GP3 class. Okubo opened the season with his first victory in the Japanese championship at Tsukuba, this was followed by another victory at Motegi, these victories along with two other podiums were enough to secure his first Japanese championship title. Okubo also competed in his first 125cc World Championship event as a wildcard at the Japanese round at Motegi, he qualified in 26th and finished the race just out of the points in 16th position. Deciding to try to defend his title in 2011, Okubo stayed in the J-GP3 class, along with 18 Garage Racing Team for the third consecutive year. Okubo only finished two of the five races, as he could only finish tenth overall. He once again received a wildcard entry to the 125cc World Championship for the Japanese round held at Motegi, he qualified 25th and finished just outside the points again in 17th.

Asia Dream Cup

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Deciding not to remain in the Japanese championship in 2012, Okubo joined the one-make Asia Dream Cup aboard a Honda CBR250 for the inaugural season. The Asia Dream Cup, which runs alongside the Asia Road Racing Championship, spanned across six different countries in Asia. Okubo was engaged in an all out battle with fellow Japanese rider Hiroki Ono, which Okubo prevailed in by ten points ahead of Ono.[3]

Return to All Japan Road Race GP3

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For 2013, Okubo returned to the Japanese championship to try and recapture the J-GP3 title with the Hot Racing Honda squad, he eventually finished third overall with five third-place finishes his best results. He remained in the J-GP3 class with Hot Racing aboard a Honda NSF250R in 2014, he finished the season in sixth overall, with a second-place finish at Motegi being his best result. He also received a wildcard for the Motegi round of the 2014 Moto3 World Championship, he failed to finish the race after qualifying 26th.

All Japan Road Race ST600 Championship

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In 2015 he made a class change as he stepped up to the ST600 series with Kohara Racing riding a stock Honda CBR600RR, he finished the season third overall after two podium finishes in the final rounds of the season at Okayama and Suzuka.

Supersport World Championship

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In November 2015, it was announced that Okubo had signed to race for CIA Landlord Insurance Honda in the 2016 Supersport World Championship season, riding a Honda CBR600RR.[4] He finished his rookie season 21st overall, scoring points in six of the twelve races. His best finish result was 10th place at EuroSpeedway Lausitz. He remained in the class for the 2017 season, riding a Honda CBR600RR. He improved his final championship position to 15th overall, highlighted by a 6th place at Buriram International Circuit. In 2018 he switched to the Puccetti Racing squad, riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R. Okubo finished in 13th place in the championship, with 8th place at Circuito San Juan Villicum his best result. Okubo remained with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing in 2019.

MotoE World Cup

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On February 2, 2021, it was announced that Okubo will compete in the 2021 MotoE World Cup as part of Avant Ajo MotoE, replacing Niki Tuuli.[5]

Career statistics

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Grand Prix motorcycle racing

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By season

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Season Class Motorcycle Team Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
2010 125cc Honda 18 Garage Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2011 125cc Honda 18 Garage Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2014 Moto3 Honda Hot Racing with I-Factory 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2021 MotoE Energica Avant Ajo MotoE 7 0 0 0 0 45 11th
2022 MotoE Energica Ego Corsa Avant Ajo MotoE 12 0 1 0 0 95.5 6th
2023 MotoE Ducati V21L Tech3 E-Racing 16 0 0 0 0 79 13th
Total 38 0 1 0 0 219.5

By class

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Class Seasons 1st GP 1st Pod 1st Win Race Win Podiums Pole FLap Pts WChmp
125cc 2010–2011 2010 Japan 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Moto3 2014 2014 Japan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
MotoE 2021–present 2021 Spain 2022 France 35 0 1 0 0 219.5 0
Total 2010–2011, 2014, 2021–present 38 0 1 0 0 219.5 0

Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Pts
2010 125cc Honda QAT SPA FRA ITA GBR NED CAT GER CZE INP RSM ARA JPN
16
MAL AUS POR VAL NC 0
2011 125cc Honda QAT SPA POR FRA CAT GBR NED ITA GER CZE INP RSM ARA JPN
17
AUS MAL VAL NC 0
2014 Moto3 Honda QAT AME ARG SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER INP CZE GBR RSM ARA JPN
Ret
AUS MAL VAL NC 0
2021 MotoE Energica SPA
7
FRA
Ret
CAT
9
NED
8
AUT
5
RSM1
Ret
RSM2
6
11th 45
2022 MotoE Energica SPA1
6
SPA2
5
FRA1
3
FRA2
6
ITA1
11
ITA2
Ret
NED1
13
NED2
11
AUT1
4
AUT2
7
RSM1
7
RSM2
9
6th 95.5
2023 MotoE Ducati FRA1
5
FRA2
10
ITA1
15
ITA2
12
GER1
10
GER2
8
NED1
14
NED2
12
GBR1
13
GBR2
8
AUT1
Ret
AUT2
8
CAT1
13
CAT2
13
RSM1
9
RSM2
12
13th 79

Half points awarded as less than two thirds of the race distance (but at least three full laps) was completed.

Supersport World Championship

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Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Pts
2016 Honda AUS
Ret
THA
20
SPA
16
NED
24
ITA
19
MAL
15
GBR
15
ITA
11
GER
10
FRA
27
SPA
13
QAT
13
21st 19
2017 Honda AUS
DNS
THA
6
SPA
11
NED
21
ITA
9
GBR
9
ITA
15
GER
23
POR
12
FRA
11
SPA
13
QAT
Ret
15th 42
2018 Kawasaki AUS
14
THA
19
SPA
Ret
NED
Ret
ITA
10
GBR
Ret
CZE
13
ITA
9
POR
10
FRA
9
ARG
8
QAT
Ret
13th 39
2019 Kawasaki AUS
6
THA
6
SPA
8
NED
7
ITA
4
SPA
7
ITA
5
GBR
13
POR
7
FRA
5
ARG
12
QAT
8
5th 105
Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Pts
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
2020 Honda AUS
Ret
SPA
Ret
SPA
Ret
POR POR SPA
17
SPA
15
SPA
Ret
SPA
DNS
SPA SPA FRA
Ret
FRA
9
POR
12
POR
Ret
22nd 12
2024 Kawasaki AUS
Ret
AUS
24
SPA
24
SPA
23
NED
25
NED
17
ITA ITA GBR GBR CZE CZE POR POR FRA FRA ITA ITA SPA SPA POR POR SPA SPA 44th 0

CIV National 600

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Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos Pts
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
2022 Kawasaki MIS
MIS
VAL
VAL
MUG
MUG
MIS2
MIS2
MUG2
6
MUG2
C
IMO
10
IMO
8
18th 24

References

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  1. ^ "ライダープロフィール #39 大久保 光". superbike.jp (in Japanese). MFJ. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Wild card riders profile" (PDF). mobilityland.co.jp. Twin Ring Motegi. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship 2012 – Overall championship standings – Asia Dream Cup". asiaroadracing.com. Asia Road Racing. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Japanese youngster completes CIA Honda line-up". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Hikari Okubo takes over from Niki Tuuli at Ajo for MotoE in 2021". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
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