Hirakawa was slowest of all in the Q2 pole shootout on Saturday, around eight tenths off the pace of poleman and title rival Tomoki Nojiri - with whom he had split the two wins at the opening Fuji Speedway double-header.
From 12th on the grid, the Impul driver was able to make up five places in a rain-soaked race on Sunday, as Nojiri finished second behind Nobuharu Matsushita.
