SUPERB PODIUM FINISH FOR KIYONARI
18 July 2004 - Honda Racing

Ryuichi Kiyonari powered his way to a third place finish on the HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade in a tense British Superbike Championship battle at Mallory Park.

The Japanese star stunned onlookers as he cut through the field from ninth position to challenge the front-runners for the lead.

Kiyonari actually crossed the line in second on the road, just behind race winner Scott Smart after overtaking John Reynolds and James Haydon in the closing stages. However, he was relegated to third on combined times after the race had been stopped and the result was decided over two legs. His consolation was the fastest lap of the race – 51.931 seconds on the penultimate lap.

The 21-year-old Japanese rider displayed an astonishing return to form at the 1.39-mile Leicestershire circuit after finding a good set-up during recent testing at Suzuka in preparation for the prestigious 8-Hour Race. It was the first time that he had finished in the top three since the opening round at Silverstone in March.

It was a day of mixed fortunes for HM Plant Honda Racing in the Superbike class after Michael Rutter crashed out of race two at Gerard’s Bend on lap 20. The 31-year-old Leicestershire rider – competing at his home event – lost the front end of his factory Fireblade while coming under pressure from his team-mate.

Michael Rutter: “It hasn’t been my weekend. I’m really disappointed with the way that today has turned out – not just because it was important for me to do well at my home race, but also because of the harm that it has done to my championship ambitions. I lost the front in the first part of Gerard’s with no warning and there was nothing that I could do about it. It’ll be hard work for me to make up on the ground that I’ve lost to Reynolds here.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari: “That was fun – I have enjoyed racing at Mallory Park this weekend. I would like to thank HM Plant Honda Racing for helping me to find a good set-up on my CBR1000RR Fireblade. I have renewed confidence in the front end and that has enabled me to challenge for victory once again. We have worked hard on the development of the bike and we are happy with the progress we have made in recent weeks.”

Race two result: 1. S. Smart (Kawasaki) 27:40.337; 2. J. Reynolds (Suzuki) +1.932; 3. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda Racing) +2.608; 4. J. Haydon (Yamaha) +3.109; 5. S. Emmett (Ducati) +8.231; 6. T. Hill (Yamaha) +9.042; 7. G. Mason (Yamaha) +10.775; 8. D. Thomas (Yamaha) +11.501; 9. J. McGuinness (Kawasaki) +11.563; 10. S. Plater (Yamaha) +11.624; DNF – M. Rutter

Points after round nine: 1. Reynolds – 335; 2. Rutter – 262; 3. Smart – 240; 4. Kagayama – 229; 5. Emmett – 226; 6=. Thomas, Kiyonari – 124; 8. Haydon – 111; 9. Hill – 98; 10. Mason – 85

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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