Kiyonari Eclipses Lavilla In Free Practice, Round 5 @ Mondello Park

Ryuichi Kiyonari, riding the HM Plant Honda, eclipsed the two Airwaves Ducatis in the hands of defending champion Gregorio Lavilla and Leon Haslam in opening practice for the first round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Mondello Park.

The Japanese rider has had a difficult early campaign, running a distant third in the title stakes, but here at the tight, twisting and demanding County Kildare circuit he showed the speed and style that earned him a dozen victories, including one in the corresponding round of last year.

“Very good. Now I should get a good qualifying and then have podium finishes. This is not the fastest of tracks but there are many chances for passing. I am looking for a grid position, strong start and hopefully more podiums,” smiled Kiyonari after his fast lap late on in the session.

He lapped the 2.1766 miles in 1m 40.108secs, an average speed of 78.34mph, running just 0.004secs up on Lavilla who is intent on stretching his 62 points lead in the title stakes over Haslam.

Lavilla, who like Kiyonari took a win here last term, is brimming with conifence having completed a daily double in each of the previous two rounds, but, particularly at Oulton Park he came under severe pressure from both Shane Byrne and Karl Harris.

“I have had some really good results so far but I was made to work very hard in the previous round,” said the Spaniard. “It will be tough again here, but I am intent on strong podium finishes. I do not talk about the championship, only about the races in which I want to do the best.”

With no team-orders, Lavilla is under pressure from Haslam who is not content to be running in second place. The Derbyshire rider sees success in the scrap for the British crown as a vital step in his bid to return to World Championship action.

He has ridden strongly throughout, but is still searching for a first victory of the season: “I’m feeling confident as it was here that Greg and I achieved our first one-two of the season here last year. My priority is to strengthen my position in the championship and hopefully get that elusive first win of the season.”

Their plans however could be upset by the determined young Ulsterman Jonathan Rea. He enjoyed his first ever pole start here last season, and, riding the Red Bull Honda, was only 0.17secs down on Kiyonari, to be fourth on the leaderboard.

Michael Rutter was fifth up aboard the Stobart Motorsport Honda, running half a second faster that Byrne’s Rizla Suzuki and Harris on the second HM Plant Honda. Glen Richards, Hydrex Honda, ran eighth, with Craig Coxhell, Hawk Kawasaki, and Scott Smart aboard the Vivaldi Suzuki completing the top ten.

James Buckingham, the defending British Superbike Cup champion, and current series leader, led the times for the privateers, running some three quarters of a second faster than Marty Nutt and Chris Martin.

Related Links
www.britishsuperbike.com