Bennetts Suzuki’s Ryuichi Kiyonari is feeling confident and happy onboard his GSX-R1000 after his team made a big change to the balance of his motorbike, and it showed as he went sixth on the timesheets during the second MCE British Superbike free practice session at Thruxton.
The triple-champ has not been on the podium yet this season, and is hoping to improve even more during qualifying and ultimately race day. A 1’15.717 was significantly faster than his FP1 time, as he went round the Hampshire track using one tyre in the morning session.
Kiyo is benefitting from the changes made to his Suzuki and stated that the bike is ‘better’. The weather was very warm today but the Japanese rider is relishing the hot and humid conditions and enjoys the track too. The racer has a busy few days ahead of him as on Monday he is jumping on a plane to compete in the Suzuka-8-hours.
“This morning was P27 but I only used one tyre so that is why I didn’t improve the lap time. In FP2 I am very happy, even in FP1 the machine is feeling so much better because my team have made a big change to improve the machine set up for me and I am very happy,” speaking to bikesportnews.com from the track.
“Especially machine balance - they have changed that and it is a big change I feel it is much better. I enjoy any circuit, this track is fast and has long corners - it is quite difficult but I enjoy it and hopefully I can finish in a better position and I am ready to race.
“I am off to Suzuka on Monday which is good as every week I can ride a motorbike and I am not world champion so I need to practice and it is good practice being here and Suzuka. I like the hot weather here and I enjoy riding the motorcycle.”
