Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari feels that Donington Park is a good place to start his 2015 MCE British Superbike title challenge and says he is fighting fit if a little sore following a big highside in testing last week.
The Japanese rider got pitched over the highside of his S1000RR at Redgate last Thursday but it isn’t going to hold him back: "I am very happy with how we finished the test last week because that was only our third test. I felt sore after the crash, but I will still be pushing hard this weekend and I am feeling confident,” he said.
Kiyo has had only a couple of days testing, latterly at Donington, but is confident the little, family team Stuart and Steve Hicken have built – and which seems to suit Kiyo after his long-term association with Honda – is the package he needs to win a fourth crown to equal Byrne and put behind him the disastrous last round of 2014 where a broken collarbone handed the PBM man his fourth crown.
“Very happy to be back and looking forward to starting racing – Donington Park for the first round is good for me, but I like racing any track as I really enjoy my bike. I have tested the bike and both tests have been very good, though now we need to compare our performance with the other riders. Kiyo told
“I know the BMW, this is my second season with the bike which is the same as last year and seems very good so now it all depends on my riding. The bike is good, the team is good and I am very happy being with them, so now it is down to me. If I am good, then I can win.
“Brands Hatch last year was not good, I made a mistake, broke my collarbone, but that now is in the past – I am not thinking about that but thinking about the first round and the season ahead. Every year is hard, but this year maybe is a bit more difficult. There are so many good riders like Byrne, Josh, Broc Parkes, Michael Laverty, Tommy Bridewell, Danny Buchan and more.
“Always I try very hard, giving 100 per cent or more – I want to win races, I want to win the title again. I have confidence in the bike and will just try very hard. I am very happy to be racing in England, happy with my home in Market Rasen and I am a happy man if I win races. If I do not win, I am not happy.”
