Welcome to the beta version of the new Women & Golf website. Our web monkeys are still hard at work and welcome your feedback.  

Advertisement

Kiyonari's British Superbike rollercoaster

The 2014 season was an emotionally charged and unpredictable one for Ryuichi Kiyonari. It was full of extreme highs, in which he found himself back atop the podium with his new Buildbase BMW team, after spending the majority of his career on a Honda.

He was challenging main rival Shane Byrne for the title when his season came to an abrupt end at the final round at Brands Hatch after he fell and broke his collarbone in free practice.
 
The three-time MCE British Superbike champion is not trying to dwell on the past and already knows that he will remain with Stuart Hicken and Co for 2015, but it has taken him a while to get over a disastrous year with the Samsung Honda team in 2013.
 
“I always pushed hard at every lap and at every corner - and every lap I wanted to go fast. I always hear Shakey’s bike close by and I feel ‘Oh no, he’s still behind me’. But then he passes me and I pass him back and I push harder and that is what it has been like all year,” said Kiyonari, speaking to Bikesport News.
 
One of the highlights of the 2014 season for Kiyo was the epic battle he had with Byrne at Silverstone, where he took a narrow victory from the Lambeth-born rider in the final race of the day. He narrowed the gap going into the final round to 12 points and the fire ignited once again in the Japanese.
 
“At Silverstone it was so close and I was thinking  at the end, ‘Don’t crash, don’t crash’. I knew that Byrne was strong on the last corner and I wanted to win that race so bad – I didn’t care about tyre life or anything.

“It was so much pressure riding in front of Shakey. He is always close to me, and I get so tired after racing Shakey – and going into the last round there were only 12 points separating the both of us.”

Advertisement

Kiyo’s season started when he signed for a new team and a different manufacturer – a big deal for a racer who had been a Honda man for all his racing life. But Kiyo embraced the BMW garage and exceeded his, and the team’s, expectations.

“There were big changes in 2014 for me. I was in a new team and at the start the aim was to stay in the top six and get points, and no more DNFs. Then I got into the top six and my other aim was the Showdown, so I was ticking everything off my list. Once I was in the Showdown I had the championship in my sights.
 
“Same mechanics, same team but new bike for 2015, which is good for me and good for this year. I did like 2014, I enjoyed it so much. Byrne was my target all year and I had so much fun. Beating him has been my goal, so if Shakey left then my target is gone,” said the 32-year-old.

The accolade for the first rider to nab four British Superbike titles went to Shane Byrne, when Kiyonari fell at the final hurdle at the last round at Brands Hatch, after a highside during free practice. He missed all three races, which still leaves him feeling disappointed. But it’s onwards and upwards for King Kiyo and, with a competitive package behind him, he promises to come out of the starting blocks fighting at the first round at Donington Park in a few months’ time to challenge for a fourth BSB championship.

“You can’t predict motorbike racing. At Brands the crash was my big mistake. I highsided and broke my collarbone, which left me feeling very disappointed. Second in the championship was good and everything is positive and we won some races and got on the podium, but we had a big chance to win the championship; that is why I feel so disappointed as not many people had the chance I did.”

Even though it was Byrne who took the championship spoils at Brands Hatch, judging by the fans’ reaction Kiyo was the victor as they chanted “Kiyo, Kiyo”, giving him the kind of reception that wouldn’t seem out of place for a rock god at a stadium concert. But the fans’ favourite doesn’t want to let them down again.
 
“I tried 100 per cent this year, but was completely disappointed in my performance at Brands. I couldn’t ride the final round and I found it so hard. Now I am looking forward to next year and riding the new BMW and I want to be stronger. For next year, we can start strongly and have a good pace from the opening round and win more races.”

Articles you may like

Advertisement

More Big Read

Advertisement
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram