HikariOkubo

Japanese rider Hikari Okubo switches to Dynavolt Honda for 2020, a new challenge in the rising star’s career.

Okubo started out in the All Japan Road Race Championship GP125 class and spent most of his early career in Asia, also competing in the Asia Dream Cup, GP3 Championship and STK600 class.

The 26-year-old born in Kodaika moved over to WorldSSP in 2016 and improved steadily through 2017, eventually turning into a consistent top-ten runner. In 2018 he joined the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team, making progress after a tough start, but 2019 saw the Japanese rider’s true breakthrough. Scoring points in every race that season (and all but two inside the top eight), Okubo finished the year fifth in the championship standings, despite a lack of podium finishes.

Moving back to Honda machinery for 2020, Okubo returns as a more mature rider and a proven frontrunner; one that could bring more than his share of surprises to fellow rivals.