Ryuichi Kiyonari doubles Donington | Showdown looms
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.
Brookes said: “!t has been a hard weekend as it didn’t start well and I had a few problems and the whole weekend I have been trying to find a setting that worked with the gearing and make the corners also work well. We didn’t really find that sweet spot and it seemed to be a compromise but we didn’t give up and we kept working throughout the weekend to make it better.
“I was disappointed in the first race, because at this stage of the season once you are in the Showdown, you only get a reward if you are on the podium with the points. Race two was definitely the hardest I have had to ride for one point! I was able to improve my times but in race two and starting from the second row wasn’t ideal. It took me a long time to get in front of Stuart [Easton], I knew I had the speed but there was a real strong yo-yo affect of where he was quicker and where I was and it meant I couldn’t make a pass for some time. That gave Kiyo and Shakey the chance to get away at the front and then I had my work cut out. I did make up some time which was the most satisfying part of the weekend.”
Shane Byrne: “Today’s first race was great fun and I really, really enjoyed it. The temperature was hotter than it had been all weekend so I tried to lead and set a good pace but not one that was too quick so it would damage the tyres for the end of the race. When Kiyo came by, I decided to sit on his back wheel and I had a plan to try and beat him which didn’t quite happen. I couldn’t be that close to him and not have a go though so dived up the inside at Goddards on the final lap only to run wide. I tried to cut back but was a bit eager on the throttle so had to take second place. In the second race, Kiyo set an incredible pace and my plan was to overtake him on the last lap at the Old Hairpin but I nearly launched myself into orbit coming out of Redgate and that pretty much ended my chances. I pushed over the limit to try and close back up to him and whilst I got close it wasn’t close enough. It was a bit frustrating not to win this weekend but I’ve extended my lead in the Podium Points and we go into the Showdown in a strong position so thank you to all my team for doing a great job again.”
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:
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW)
- Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.184s
- Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +1.188s
- Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +1.614s
- Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +4.519s
- Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki) +5.298s
Race two:
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW)
- Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.489s
- Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +1.183s
- Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +7.438s
- Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki) +10.874s
- Julien Da Costa (Honda Racing) +11.764s
Championship standings ahead of the Showdown:
- Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 562
- Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 536
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 535
- Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 508
- Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 505
- Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 501
British Supersport
Luke Mossey claimed the victory in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship Feature race running his Techcare Profile Triumph three seconds ahead of the fast and furious duel for second place between the Smiths Triumph team-mates.
Behind Mossey the action was intense with Graeme Gowland holding off his team-mate Billy McConnell to take second place and close to within a single point of the Aussie at the sharp-end of the title stakes with three rounds remaining.
Irwin, the Sprint race winner, had led the first three laps before Mossey took over at the front. Mossey refused to give an inch and was pushing hard to gain an advantage and he was never challenged in the closing stages while McConnell ran fourth for six laps before finding a way past the determined Gowland.
The Aussie was riding hard, and he attacked Irwin for second and in amazing sequence the duo changed places four times in as many corners. McConnell made it stick on the twelfth lap at the Melbourne Hairpin as they and Gowland went in three abreast.
Gowland gained most, taking over in second place from McConnell and Irwin with Luke Stapleford holding fifth from Alastair Seeley who crashed out of contention at the Old Hairpin with five laps to go.
McConnell tried frantically to overcome Gowland but there was no way through for him, especially after a minor error on the last lap at the Old Hairpin which cost him vital time.
For Mossey the victory was all the sweeter after having to settle for second place the previous afternoon as he said: “I had a good lead, there was a little rain and I bottled it finishing second but this make amends for that and has given me a big confidence booster for the remaining races.”
Gowland is ready to fight for the crown to the end of the final race of the campaign: “It is looking that way – that race was great fun, I have a great bike and it was good to be part of a race like that.”
Alex Olsen tightened his grip on the Supersport EVO category with victory ahead of Josh Corner and Jamie Perrin.
Graeme Gowland: “The championship this year will definitely go to the wire and Billy and I seem to keep finishing each round with just one point between us. It’s great racing in each race and great to be part of although it does bring some hectic moments with it. It’s full credit to the whole Smiths Triumph team for putting such a great package beneath us and that’s why there are two Smiths bikes and two Smiths riders in first and second in the championship at the moment. To get two podiums at a track I normally struggle with is a great result for me and I’m well pleased with the weekend.”
Billy McConnell: “It’s been a weekend full of battles and in the second race, I was simply desperate to get by Glenn Irwin and latch on to the back of Graeme. Luke’s been on fire all weekend so there was no catching him and I did all I could to get past Graeme to increase my lead. There’s nothing between us although I was strong through the Melbourne Loop, Graeme was strong through the back part of the track. I’d hoped to make a move on the final lap but got a bit too excited coming out of the Old Hairpin and had a bit of a moment so with championship points vital, I opted for third. After fourth on Saturday, it’s great to get another podium but it would be nice to get back to winning ways so that’s what I’ll be looking for at Assen.”
Motorpoint British Supersport Race
- Luke Mossey (Techcare/Profile Triumph)
- Graeme Gowland (Smiths Racing Triumph) +3.323s
- Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing Triumph) +3.522s
- Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing Triumph) +5.428s
- Glenn Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) +6.011s
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship standings after Donington Park:
- Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing Triumph) 301
- Graeme Gowland (Smiths Racing Triumph) 300
- Alastair Seeley (Martrain Yamaha) 242
- Glenn Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) 232
- Luke Jones (Acumen Industrial Services/T3 Racing) 203
Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship
Jason O’Halloran powered to his first victory of the season, fully capitalising on the first lap crash of series leader Danny Buchan at Craner Curves. The Honda rider’s success closes him within 28 points of the Tsingtao WK Kawasaki rider with two races to go. Adam Jenkinson ran second ahead of Joe Burns with Lee Jackson in close contention in fourth.
Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship
Andy Reid scored his fifth victory of the season aboard the FFX Yamaha in a hard fought thriller, finally heading off the challenge of Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Nick Anderson after shattering the lap record in the closing stages. Kyle Ryde took third on the PacedayZ Trackdays Yamaha, but his lead in the title stakes over Reid was cut to just three points.
Eastern Airways British Sidecar Championship
The Birchall brothers, Tom and Ben, completed a winning double at their local circuit, leading throughout Sunday’s eight lap race to win by eight seconds from the series leading Sean Hegarty/James Neave who took consolation for their second place as under series rules, they scored maximum points. Pekka Paivarinta/Timo Kattiala took third.
Motul British Motostar Championship
Bradey Ray took his fourth victory of the season aboard the FAB Racing EE ahead of KTM Moto3 riding Jordan Weaving after Saturday’s race winner Joe Irving fell on the exit of Melbourne Hairpin while leading on the eighth lap. Taz Taylor ran third ahead of Asher Durham and Ed Rendell.
TriStar R&G Triple Challenge
Freddy Pett completed the double with a comfortable victory by some two seconds over Phil Atkinson with Scott Pitches running third ahead of Tom Carne. Pett now has a 50 points advantage over Atkinson, who in turn is only three points clear of Pitchers, going into the penultimate round.
