BSB Donington Image Gallery B | Images by Jon Jessop
BSB Donington Image Gallery B | Images by Jon Jessop
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.
BSB Donington 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
BSB Donington 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
BSB Donington 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
