Hikari Okubo

is a Japanese motorcycle racer who last competed in the MotoE World Championship for Tech3 E-Racing. He has also competed in the Supersport World Championship aboard a Honda CBR600RR.

Career

All Japan Road Race GP125/GP3 Championship

Born in the city of Kodaira in Tokyo, 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

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.

Return to All Japan Road Race GP3

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

In 2015, Okuba\o 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

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. He finished his rookie season 21st overall, scoring points in six of the twelve races. His best finish result was tenth 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 sixth 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 eighth place at Circuito San Juan Villicum his best result. Okubo remained with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing in 2019.

MotoE World Cup

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

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

By class

Races by year (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 MAL AUS POR VAL NC 0 2011 125cc Honda QAT SPA POR FRA CAT GBR NED ITA GER CZE INP RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL NC 0 Moto3 Honda QAT AME ARG SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER INP CZE GBR RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL NC 0 MotoE Energica SPA FRA CAT NED AUT RSM1 RSM2 11th 45 MotoE Energica SPA1 SPA2 FRA1 FRA2 ITA1 ITA2 NED1 NED2 AUT1 AUT2 RSM1 RSM2 6th 95.5 MotoE Ducati FRA1 FRA2 ITA1 ITA2 GER1 GER2 NED1 NED2 GBR1 GBR2 AUT1 AUT2 CAT1 CAT2 RSM1 RSM2 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

Races by year (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 THA SPA NED ITA MAL GBR ITA GER FRA SPA QAT 21st 19 2017 Honda AUS THA SPA NED ITA GBR ITA GER POR FRA SPA QAT 15th 42 2018 Kawasaki AUS THA SPA NED ITA GBR CZE ITA POR FRA ARG QAT 13th 39 2019 Kawasaki AUS THA SPA NED ITA SPA ITA GBR POR FRA ARG QAT 5th 105

CIV National 600

Races by year (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 MUG2 IMO IMO 18th 24 Asia Production 250

Races by year (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

ARRC Supersports 600 Championship Races by year (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 2026 Honda SEP SEP CHA CHA MOT MOT MAN MAN SEP SEP CHA CHA 8th* 50*

FIM Endurance World Cup Year Team Bike Tyre Rider 2025 Team Étoile BMW S1000RR Hikari Okubo Kazuki Watanabe Motoharu Ito Kyosuke Okuda 86 5th Source:

Suzuka 8 Hours