Ryuichi Kiyonari answered the hurry-up call from his HM Plant Honda team by taking a winning double in the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to move into close contention for the title. The Japanese rider was hard pressed to hold off the close attention of Leon Haslam, who might have snatched the opening race had there been a further lap, and then profited from the stoppage in the second race as officials dealt with the heavy crash involving James Haydon and Dean Thomas.
Haslam had to settle for second best on the re-start, but, as his Airwaves Ducati team-mate, the defending champion, and series leader Gregorio Lavilla crashed out took some consolation as he moved within 38 points of the championship lead.
The young Derbyshire rider had shattered the Norfolk circuit records as he claimed his third pole start of the season, at an average speed of 108.95mph, but it was Kiyonari who made the perfect get-away in the opener, with his team-mate Karl Harris running close behind.
But, the Sheffield rider came to grief on the fourth lap, taking a battering that would keep him out of the second race. Lavilla moved second, but only briefly as Haslam charged ahead, and then in a close and frantic duel held him off and then eased some five seconds clear.
Jonathan Rea took fourth place on the Red Bull Honda, ahead of the Stobart Hondas of Michael Laverty and Michael Rutter who had Tommy Hill sandwiched in between them, while James Haydon, Rizla Suzuki, Billy McConnell, Virgin Mobile Yamaha and the Vivaldi Suzuki of Ben Wilson completed the top ten.
Kiyonari again made the break at the start of the second race, but Haslam was upping his game and the power, hounding the Honda rider, swapping the lead before the Ducati man made the telling move, inching clear.
The race was on. Kiyonari bettered the lap record but Haslam held the advantage, just, while behind them Lavilla was having a tough time to take first Hill and then Rea, but, as the action was racing was reaching boiling point the red-flags came out as Haydon and Thomas tangled at the Esses – both needed hospital treatment.
On the re-start, Kiyonari grabbed the initiative, with Lavilla taking Haslam, and Rea running fourth ahead of Laverty and Rutter but next time around, the Spaniard, suffering nothing more than dented pride, crashed for a second time over the weekend.
The Audi Safety Car was brought out while the bike was moved, and then Rea tumbled out. Haslam was able to close in on Kiyonari, but the Japanese rider held him off as the action resumed for real and after eight hard fought laps he was enjoying his fourth success of the campaign.
“Bike very fast, very happy with win,” he smiled as he moved within two points of Haslam, who was both pleased and disappointed with his results. “It is frustrating to finish second twice again – it is time that I was winning races, but at least I have pulled back points on Greg.
“Kiyo rode very well and did me again in these races, but I am happy with my riding and had some good battles, so, all in all I am feeling good.”
Hill took his first podium finish of the season, third, ahead of Laverty, Craig Coxhell who finally had the better of British Superbike Cup rider Chris Martin who took sixth place aboard his PR Branson Honda, just ahead of Scott Smart, Vivaldi Suzuki, Glen Richards with Jon Kirkham ninth aboard the Rizla Suzuki.
The Derby rider had been given the chance to ride the factory bike – Shane Byrne’s spare machine – after the former champion had suffered concussion in a heavy, high-speed in the opening minutes of Friday’s free practice.
Martin, who had completed a daily double, now leads the British Superbike Cup points 232-186 over James Buckingham, who crashed out of the opening race at Coram, but bounced back to take second place next time out.
Race One – 21 laps1, R Kiyonari HM Plant Honda 24m 13.531secs, av.sp. 101.52mph
2, L Haslam Airwaves Ducati 24:13.829
3, G Lavilla Airwaves Ducati 24:19.160
4, J Rea Red Bull Honda 24:23.115
5, M Laverty Stobart Honda 24:23.605
6, T Hill Virgin Mobile Yamaha 24:25.567
Fastest lap: L Haslam 1m 05.054s, 108.02mph
Race Two – 8 laps1, R Kiyonari HM Plant Honda 9m 10.957secs, av.sp 102.03mph
2, L Haslam Airwaves Ducati 9:11.359
3, T Hill Virgin Mobile Yamaha 9:14.807
4, M Laverty Stobart Honda 9:15.028
5, C Coxhell Hawk Kawasaki 9:16.918
6, C Martin PR Branson Honda 9:20.010
Fastest lap: R Kiyonari 1m 04.688s, 108.63mph
Championship standings:1, G Lavilla 239
2, L Haslam 201
3, R Kiyonari 199
4, K Harris 110
5, S Byrne 105
6=, J Rea 96
6=, M Laverty 96
8, M Rutter 90
9, Hill 87
10, D Thomas 64.
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