In some quarters, three-time MCE British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari had been written off at the start of the this season, with forum warlords saying he was finished and would never grace a podium again. Those a bit closer to the action suspected differently.

And lo, it came to pass that the old Kiyo, once he got the Buildbase BMW to his liking, returned and from Knockhill onwards gave Shane Byrne a pretty thin time of it. It is this that bikesportnews.com readers admired in their droves and voted Kiyo, by a country mile, their MCE British Superbike Rider of the Year.

The Japanese rider polled a staggering 44.46 per cent of the vote to claim top spot with Shane Byrne second on 13.44 per cent. Tommy Bridewell bagged the last podium spot with 11.67 per cent while Peter Hickman took fourth on 9.31 per cent. Fifth place was a photo-finish with Chris Walker and Dan Linfoot both getting 5.61 per cent.

Come back tomorrow to see who was voted British Rider of the Year.