HONDA RACING DOUBLE TOP
19 September 2004 - Honda Racing

The HM Plant Honda Racing duo of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Michael Rutter took to the top two steps of the podium at the opening race of the final round of the British Superbike Championship at Donington Park.

It was the third time this season that the pairing has scored a one-two.

However, the difference this time was that 21-year-old Kiyonari was the rider at the top of the rostrum. After grabbing the pole position yesterday, the British Superbike rookie dominated today’s 20-lap race from start to finish aboard the HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade. He eventually passed the chequered flag more than ten seconds ahead of his team-mate.

The Japanese star smashed the lap record with a time of 1:32.386 on his way to claiming his first race win of the season for HM Plant Honda Racing. Kiyonari rode in the British GP for Honda at the 2.5-mile Grand Prix circuit last year, but this was his first Superbike race at the Leicestershire venue.

Rutter crossed the line in second position – more than a second-and-a-half ahead of rival John Reynolds – after holding that place for the entire race. It was the perfect belated celebration for the 32-year-old’s birthday yesterday. Unfortunately, it was not enough to deny Reynolds the championship victory, but the Leicestershire rider’s adversary was forced to claim his win from the bottom step of the podium.

Michael Rutter: “Fair play to John [Reynolds]. He has ridden consistently well for most of the season so I cannot fault him – he deserved the title. I’m pleased to have finished ahead of him today though. I’m still really happy to finish second in the championship. People forget that we had a brand new bike and tyres at the start of the season. I think if HRC and HM Plant Honda Racing return to the series next year with me as a rider, we will have enough information to go for the title.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari: “I’m very happy with my result today. I know this circuit better than the other ones that we have been to this season. After being fastest in practice and qualifying, I was hoping to get a win because today was obviously my last chance to do so. I’m so happy for my crew and everyone associated with the team. This is my way of saying thank you to them all. The factory Fireblade and Michelin tyres are working well here, so I am hoping for a similar result in race two.”

Race one result: 1. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda Racing) 32:05.596; 2. M. Rutter (HM Plant Honda Racing) +10.981; 3. J. Reynolds (Suzuki) +12.559; 4. S. Smart (Kawasaki) +15.169; 5. S. Emmett (Ducati) +16.223; 6. G. Richards (Kawasaki) +20.760; 7. D. Thomas (Ducati) +27.233; 8. J. Haydon (Yamaha) +33.589; 9. G. Mason (Yamaha) +39.785; 10. T. Hill (Yamaha) +39.873

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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