KIYONARI BACK ON FORM AT MALLORY
18 July 2004 - Honda Racing

HM Plant Honda Racing’s Ryuichi Kiyonari thrilled the crowds at Mallory Park in the first British Superbike Championship race of the day.

The 21-year-old Japanese rider showed a return to the kind of form that he had displayed at the opening round at Silverstone in March.

Kiyonari got away from the line in ninth but he immediately set about slicing through the field on his HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade. By lap three Japan’s rising star was in seventh place just behind team-mate Michael Rutter.

He continued to push forward, eventually taking advantage of Rutter’s mistake on lap 23 to move up to fifth position. With the competition at the front of the field being so close, Kiyonari was battling with John Reynolds, Yukio Kagayama, Scott Smart and James Haydon for the leading positions.

A breathtaking manoeuvre on lap 26 saw the 21-year-old British Superbike rookie snatch fourth place from Haydon. With just four laps remaining, Kiyonari set about catching Smart to seize a long-awaited third podium of the season. Despite closing on the third-placed rider, Kiyonari crossed the line just behind Smart in fourth.

It was not such a positive result for title-chasing Michael Rutter. The 31-year-old Kirkby Mallory rider got off to a strong start at his home round, powering his HM Plant Honda Racing machine into second place. He retained that position until lap four but was unable to hold off a number of challenges. He reached the chequered flag in sixth leaving eventual race winner John Reynolds to further extend his lead in the overall standings.

Ryuichi Kiyonari: “That was the most enjoyable race that I’ve had since I broke my collarbone at Oulton Park. In the next race I hope to get a better start, because I’m confident that I can run at the front. The only problem I had in the race was getting good drive out of turn one and the last corner. I feel much more confident after returning from my recent test at Suzuka and I hope to carry this form into race two.”

Michael Rutter: “I felt strong at the start but struggled to keep pace with the leaders over race distance. I don’t think that we had the best set-up for that race. We’ll analyse the data and then see if there’s anything that we can do for the second leg. This result obviously doesn’t bode well for my championship challenge, but you can guarantee that I’ll come back fighting on the HM Plant Honda.”

Race one result: 1. J. Reynolds (Suzuki) 26:15.170; 2. Y. Kagayama (Suzuki) +0.133; 3. S. Smart (Kawasaki) +3.417; 4. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda Racing) +3.498; 5. J. Haydon (Yamaha) +5.247; 6. M. Rutter (HM Plant Honda Racing) +5.948; 7. Sean Emmett (Ducati) +12.573; 8. D. Thomas (Ducati) +14.241; 9. John McGuinness (Kawasaki) +20.052; 10. Dennis Hobbs (Suzuki) +28.226

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