Kiyonari Dominant at Oulton Park

Kiyonari dominates at Oulton Park with double win for Buildbase BMW Motorrad, using Hiflofiltro oil filters.

Buildbase BMW Motorrad rider Ryuichi Kiyonari has shown once again that he is back to his winning ways by dominating the seventh round of British Superbikes at Oulton Park after he took two victories and a fourth place. Kiyo’s personal tally of wins is now 11 at the circuit and 47 in total.

Proving that he is equally formidable in the dry and wet, Kiyo stormed to a win in yesterday’s first race on his BMW S 1000 RR, starting tenth on the grid and winning ahead of John Brookes and Shakey Byrne. Today’s second of three races was wet as the remnants of Hurricane Bertha battered the UK with heavy rain.

As the track continued to dry, the riders made their decision on tyre choice, with the majority of the leading contenders opting for the slick Pirelli tyres. As the race got underway Brookes got his Milwaukee Yamaha off the line and into the lead, but Kiyonari didn’t let him get away with it and closed on him within the opening lap.

Kiyo made a decisive move on lap eight, slicing inside Brookes at Hizzys and claiming the lead. Despite Josh and Shakey’s best efforts, the three-time champion was beyond their reach and he crossed the line in front, once again repeating the podium positions from Saturday with Brookes second and Byrne third. Lee Jackson, doubling up on riding duties in Superstock 1000 and BSB, finished 16th on James Westmoreland’s Superbike.

The third and final race of the weekend was run in changing conditions, with the track drying but still damp in places, offering riders a challenge in tyre choice and riding tactics. Once again, most chose to run on front slicks.

Josh Brookes made an outstanding start, blasting straight into the lead ahead of pole positions starter Byrne. Building up a large gap of over eight seconds, the Australian rider rode a solo race and crossed the line to win.

Kiyonari rode hard but didn’t achieve his ideal result of three wins, instead taking fourth place after a thrilling battle late in the race with Stuart Easton who finished fifth. Kiyo was closing on Dan Linfoot in third, but didn’t have time to catch him, giving Linfoot a much-deserved first-ever podium finish in BSB. Lee Jackson once again finished 16th, narrowly missing out on a second points-scoring finish this weekend.

Ryuichi Kiyonari said: "I was very happy to take two wins. I have always been good at Oulton Park and to win twice makes me very pleased. Saturday’s race was very hot and very hard going, but today it was difficult and wet conditions are not my favourite. Yesterday I was thinking about the weather reports and I thought ‘if it is raining hard, maybe I just go home!’ but I did my best and I took another win. Josh Brookes was so fast in the third race, I did not get to catch him, which is disappointing. But overall I am very happy to be winning races again for me and for the team.”

Stuart Hicken, Team Owner, said: “Two fantastic wins for Kiyonari, you couldn’t really ask for more than that, could you. It was a huge turnaround from crashing in Q2 and having to rebuild the superbike, to a double victory. Kiyo is happy, and everyone has recognised what we knew from the start – that the BMW S 1000 RR is a race-winning superbike. We’ve proven that at the Isle of Man TT and now in BSB too.

"Kiyo is in third place in the Championship and is odds-on to be in the Showdown for the last three rounds, which is when it’ll really get interesting. Lee Jackson has impressed everyone once again by riding in two series and filling in admirably for James Westmoreland. Westy is also recovering well and will be back in action at Cadwell Park at the end of the month where we’ll be back up to full strength.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, race two result:

1) Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad)
2) Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.167s
3) Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +1.199s
4) Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +23.664s
5) Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +23.819s
6) Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +23.842

16) Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW Motorrad)

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, race three:

1) Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha)
2) Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +7.509s
3) Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +7.986s
4) Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) +8.111s
5) Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +10.049s
6) Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki) +10.430s

16) Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW Motorrad)

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Oulton Park race three:

1) Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 313
2) Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 244
3) Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) 202
4) Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 156
5) Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 142
6) Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 136

The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, takes place at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire over the August Bank Holiday of 23/24/25 August. For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com

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