Ryuichi Kiyonari celebrated a double victory ahead of title rival Shane “Shakey” Byrne in the ninth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Donington Park as the “War for Four” raged with the two riders continuing their battle for a record-breaking fourth title.
Kiyonari, who announced he will return with Buildbase BMW in the 2015 season, re-paid the team’s faith in him with two stunning rides at the Leicestershire circuit to move him to within 27 points of Byrne going into the Showdown.
Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Byrne had initially led the opening race with Kiyonari in close contention before moving ahead with a calculated move at the Esses, which kicked off a frantic scrap between the pair.
The lead changed at the Old Hairpin but Byrne was unable to hold it for long before Kiyonari was back in front. The race went down to the wire as twice in the closing stages they traded places before the Japanese rider took the victory by 0.184s.
Next time out Kiyonari led with Byrne trying everything he knew to find a way ahead in a vain effort to end a run extending to 11 races without a victory. Byrne said: “I had a plan to take him at the Old Hairpin on the last lap, and had to line it up through Redgate, but I was almost launched out of my seat but managed to stay on. I gave 150% but was not close enough to challenge. The consolation is that I gained points on my nearest rival Josh Brookes ready for the Showdown.”
Kiyonari held on to the victory, he said: “In the first race I was under a lot of pressure and it was very difficult. In the second race I led all the laps but I was pushing so hard to stay ahead of Shakey. I gave everything because I knew that Shakey was always there. I am very happy, but very tired after today! Now I want the title.”
Tommy Bridewell, already assured of a place in the Showdown, took third ahead of his Milwaukee Yamaha team-mate Josh Brookes in the opener, then crashed next time out while Brookes took third to be second in the standings, 26 points down on Byrne.
Dan Linfoot, aboard the Quattro Plant Kawasaki and Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki’s Chris Walker complete the list of the six riders who become Title Fighters in the Showdown for the title which gets underway at the legendary Assen circuit on 19/20/21 September.
Race one:
1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW)
2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.184s
3: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +1.188s
4: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +1.614s
5: Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +4.519s
6: Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki) +5.298s
Race two:
1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW)
2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.489s
3: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +1.183s
4: Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +7.438s
5: Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki) +10.874s
6: Julien Da Costa (Honda Racing) +11.764s
Championship standings ahead of the Showdown:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 562
2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 536
3: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 535
4: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 508
5: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 505
6: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 501
