Ryuichi Kiyonari
Encyclopedia
is a professional motorcycle
road racer
. He is the 2006
, 2007
and 2010
British Superbike
champion, and he currently rides for HM Plant Honda in the British Superbike Championship. He also won the 2008 Suzuka 8-Hour race, teamed with his former WSBK team-mate Carlos Checa
. He has a reputation for being at his best when leading races from the front.
, which he later stated that he did not especially enjoy. He began circuit racing in 1996, and first raced in the All-Japan
125cc Championship in 1998. He continued in this class until 2001, with a shortage of big results, other than 9th place in the 2000 Suzuka 8 Hours
race. However, for 2002 he switched to the All-Japan Supersport championship, which he won with four victories. He also took an All-Japan Superbike Championship victory at TI Aida.
to replace the late Daijiro Kato
in Fausto Gresini
's Telefónica
Movistar
team. However, he received little support within the team, especially as team-mate Sete Gibernau
challenged for the title, and failed to score much in the way of results. There were eight minor points finishes, leaving him 19th overall with a best of 11th.
, but eventually was overhauled by the improving Ducati
of Lavilla and he finished the season runner up. He also raced in the Valencia Grand Prix
for Sito Pons' Camel
Honda
team, finishing in the points.
In 2006
Ducati again had the upper hand early in the season, with Kiyonari closest to their riders, Lavilla and Leon Haslam
. A double victory at Silverstone
in the penultimate round kept him in close contention for the title. However, in the double point final round at Brands Hatch
, after a win in race one (he was leading when Shane Byrne
's heavy crash caused a stoppage - much to Haslam's visible frustration), Kiyonari only needed to finish third in the final race. Kiyonari finished 2nd in the shortened race behind Haslam, thus winning the championship by 8 points.
The 2007 season started at Brands Hatch, a track Kiyo admits he does not like, and his results there were unspectacular, with Jonathan Rea
and Leon Camier
performing better on their Hondas. However, he took a double win in round three, and a further win in race 2 at Oulton Park
, to lie second to Lavilla after four rounds. Finally defended his British champion status at Brands Hatch to win the championship for the second time in succession.
debut, having reached an agreement with the reigning champion team Ten Kate
Honda
, to partner Carlos Checa
and Kenan Sofuoğlu
.
In the second race at Monza, Kiyonari nearly had his first SBK win. Kiyonari was in front as they braked for the final entry into the Parabolica but went wide on the exit and Noriyuki Haga
and Max Neukirchner
edged him out - Haga for the win and Neukirchner claiming second by a gap of just .009. Kiyonari finished third with a gap of .051, his first Superbike podium. His first two wins came at Brands Hatch
, beating Troy Bayliss
in race 1 and Noriyuki Haga
in race 2. He briefly led the very next race at Donington Park
, but fell on lap 2. However, he did win the second race in very wet conditions, visibly sliding the rear end of his bike on many occasions. Kiyonari broke his collarbone in a testing crash at Magny Cours, 2 weeks prior to the event, meaning he missed the race.
For 2009, Kiyo stayed with the Ten Kate Honda team, partnering Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea. His bike was backed by Honda Europe rather than Hannspree. After a somewhat unsuccessful season, he finished 11th in the championship standings.
, replacing the injured Glen Richards
. He finished fourth in race one before finishing race two in 18th position.
In December 2009, he was confirmed as one of HM Plant Honda's riders for the 2010 British Superbike Championship season, partnering Australian rider Josh Brookes
. At Cadwell Park he won race one but retired from race two before it began, due to a technical problem on the warm-up lap. He scored a double win at Mallory Park
, lifting him to fourth overall in the standings.
2011 sees Kiyonari staying with HM Plant Honda in the British Superbike Championship, alongside two time BSB Champion Shane Byrne
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
. He is the 2006
2006 British Superbike season
The 2006 British Superbike season was held from March 24 to September 30.-Races:-British Superbike Championship:-British Supersport Championship:-National Superstock Championship:-External links:*...
, 2007
2007 British Superbike season
The Bennetts 2007 British Superbike Championship season started on April 7 and ended on October 14.-Calendar:-Entry List:-Final championship standings :-Superbike cup final standings :-Final Constructors Standings:|valign="top"|...
and 2010
2010 British Superbike season
The 2010 British Superbike season was the 23rd British Superbike Championship season. The season commenced on 5 April at Brands Hatch and ended on 10 October at Oulton Park after 26 races at twelve meetings held in England and Scotland....
British Superbike
British Superbike
The British Superbike Championship is the leading road racing superbike championship in the United Kingdom.The championship is managed and organised by MotorSport Vision. The Series and Race Director is Stuart Higgs. Event marshals are provided by the Racesafe Marshals Association.Two annual...
champion, and he currently rides for HM Plant Honda in the British Superbike Championship. He also won the 2008 Suzuka 8-Hour race, teamed with his former WSBK team-mate Carlos Checa
Carlos Checa
Carlos "Charlie" Checa is a professional motorcycle road racer and winner of the 2011 Superbike World Championship. After racing in 500cc and MotoGP for over a decade, mostly on Honda and Yamaha machinery with and without full manufacturer support, he moved to the Superbike World Championship on a...
. He has a reputation for being at his best when leading races from the front.
Early years
Kiyonari first raced in 1988 in motocrossMotocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
, which he later stated that he did not especially enjoy. He began circuit racing in 1996, and first raced in the All-Japan
All Japan Road Race Championship
The is the premiere motorcycle road racing championship in Japan. It is run by the Motorcycle Federation of Japan - the Japaneses affiliate of the FIM.-History:The MFJ was formed in 1961 and held its first motorcycle road race in 1967....
125cc Championship in 1998. He continued in this class until 2001, with a shortage of big results, other than 9th place in the 2000 Suzuka 8 Hours
Suzuka 8 Hours
The is a motorcycle endurance race held at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan each year. As the name implies, the race runs for eight hours consecutively and teams are composed of two riders and one alternate.-History:...
race. However, for 2002 he switched to the All-Japan Supersport championship, which he won with four victories. He also took an All-Japan Superbike Championship victory at TI Aida.
MotoGP
He moved to MotoGP in early 20032003 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2003 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 55th F.I.M. Road racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Defending champion Valentino Rossi won his 3rd MotoGP championship in 2003, winning 9 races, highlighted by his win at Phillip Island where he was given a 10 second penalty for...
to replace the late Daijiro Kato
Daijiro Kato
was a Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and the 2001 World Champion in the 250cc class.-Biography:Kato was born in Saitama, and started racing miniature bikes at an early age, becoming a four-time national champion in the Japanese pocket-bike championship.He began road racing in 1992, and...
in Fausto Gresini
Fausto Gresini
Fausto Gresini is an Italian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion. He is currently team manager for the Gresini Honda MotoGP team.Gresini was born at Imola...
's Telefónica
Telefónica
Telefónica, S.A. is a Spanish broadband and telecommunications provider in Europe and Latin America. Operating globally, it is the third largest provider in the world...
Movistar
Movistar
Movistar is a major Spanish mobile phone operator owned by Telefónica Móviles. It operates in Spain and in many Latin American countries. It is the largest carrier in Spain with 22 million customers and 41.58% of market share. Its principal competitor in Latin America is America Movil...
team. However, he received little support within the team, especially as team-mate Sete Gibernau
Sete Gibernau
Manuel Sete Gibernau Bultó is a former Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His racing career spanned two different eras of motorcycle racing, beginning with the two-stroke-dominated period prior to the 2002 season, and the four-stroke MotoGP era...
challenged for the title, and failed to score much in the way of results. There were eight minor points finishes, leaving him 19th overall with a best of 11th.
British Superbike Championship
After coming 6th overall in the British Superbike Championship in 2004, 'Kiyo' won the first four races of 2005, before injuring his ankle in a heavy crash in round 5. He was back for round 9, and retook the championship lead from team-mate Michael RutterMichael Rutter (motorcycle racer)
Michael Karl Rutter nicknamed "The Blade", is a British motorcycle racer. He has a reputation for being at his best in wet conditions and his favourite circuit is Oulton Park. He has won 27 British Superbike Championship races, most recently at Knockhill in 2010, and finished as series runner-up...
, but eventually was overhauled by the improving Ducati
Ducati Motor Holding
Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. is a motorcycle manufacturer in Bologna, Italy. It produces motorcycles for both road use and motorcycle racing.- History :...
of Lavilla and he finished the season runner up. He also raced in the Valencia Grand Prix
Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
The Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event held in Spain that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. The event takes place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo .-Multiple winners :...
for Sito Pons' Camel
Camel (cigarette)
Camel is a brand of cigarettes that was introduced by American company R.J. Reynolds Tobacco in the summer of 1913. Most current Camel cigarettes contain a blend of Turkish tobacco and Virginia tobacco. Early in 2008 the blend was changed as was the package design.-History:In 1913, R.J...
Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
team, finishing in the points.
In 2006
2006 British Superbike season
The 2006 British Superbike season was held from March 24 to September 30.-Races:-British Superbike Championship:-British Supersport Championship:-National Superstock Championship:-External links:*...
Ducati again had the upper hand early in the season, with Kiyonari closest to their riders, Lavilla and Leon Haslam
Leon Haslam
Leon Lloyd Haslam is a motorcycle racer from England. He began racing at an early age and by the time he was in his late teens, he had raced in most of the significant British and international championships. Between 2005 and 2008 he was a regular front-runner in the British Superbike Championship...
. A double victory at Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
in the penultimate round kept him in close contention for the title. However, in the double point final round at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, after a win in race one (he was leading when Shane Byrne
Shane Byrne (motorcycle racer)
Shane 'Shakey' Byrne , often known as Shakey, is a British motorcycle road racer. He is a two-time champion of the British Superbike Championship , a race winner in the Superbike World Championship and a former competitor in MotoGP.-Early days:While working as a road tester for Colin Schiller's...
's heavy crash caused a stoppage - much to Haslam's visible frustration), Kiyonari only needed to finish third in the final race. Kiyonari finished 2nd in the shortened race behind Haslam, thus winning the championship by 8 points.
The 2007 season started at Brands Hatch, a track Kiyo admits he does not like, and his results there were unspectacular, with Jonathan Rea
Jonathan Rea
Jonathan 'Johnny' Rea is a motorcycle racer, currently competing in the Superbike World Championship for Castrol Honda. He was runner-up in the Supersport World Championship for the Ten Kate Honda team in 2008, and runner-up in the British Superbike Championship in 2007 for the HM Plant Honda team...
and Leon Camier
Leon Camier
Leon Stuart Camier is a British motorcycle racer from Ashford, Kent, currently living in Bournemouth. He is the 2009 British Superbike Champion and previously won the 2005 British Supersport title. 2010 is his first season in the World Superbike series.-Personal life:Camier is the son of David and...
performing better on their Hondas. However, he took a double win in round three, and a further win in race 2 at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
, to lie second to Lavilla after four rounds. Finally defended his British champion status at Brands Hatch to win the championship for the second time in succession.
Superbike World Championship
In Ryuichi Kiyonari made his Superbike World ChampionshipSuperbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
debut, having reached an agreement with the reigning champion team Ten Kate
Ten Kate Racing
Ten Kate Racing is a motorbike racing team, currently competing in the Superbike World Championship and the Supersport World Championship under the name Hannspree Ten Kate Honda.- Foundation :...
Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, to partner Carlos Checa
Carlos Checa
Carlos "Charlie" Checa is a professional motorcycle road racer and winner of the 2011 Superbike World Championship. After racing in 500cc and MotoGP for over a decade, mostly on Honda and Yamaha machinery with and without full manufacturer support, he moved to the Superbike World Championship on a...
and Kenan Sofuoğlu
Kenan Sofuoglu
Kenan Sofuoğlu is a Turkish professional motorcycle racer. He currently competes in Moto2 for the Technomag-CIP team, having made his debut at the end of and will remain with the team for the season...
.
In the second race at Monza, Kiyonari nearly had his first SBK win. Kiyonari was in front as they braked for the final entry into the Parabolica but went wide on the exit and Noriyuki Haga
Noriyuki Haga
, is a Japanese professional motorcycle racer. Haga has been runner-up in the Superbike World Championship three times, and has finished 3rd in the series four times....
and Max Neukirchner
Max Neukirchner
Max Neukirchner is a professional motorcycle racer currently competing in the Moto2 World Championship.-World Supersport and Superbike:...
edged him out - Haga for the win and Neukirchner claiming second by a gap of just .009. Kiyonari finished third with a gap of .051, his first Superbike podium. His first two wins came at Brands Hatch
2008 Brands Hatch Superbike World Championship round
The 2008 Brands Hatch Superbike World Championship round was the tenth round of the 2008 Superbike World Championship season. It took place on the weekend of August 1-3, 2008, at the Brands Hatch circuit. The round was marred by the death of Craig Jones during the Supersport race.-Superbike race 1...
, beating Troy Bayliss
Troy Bayliss
Troy Bayliss is a retired Australian motorcycle racer. During his career Bayliss won the Superbike World Championship three times, as well as the British Superbike Championship and a MotoGP race, all with Ducati. He finished his career after winning the 2008 World Superbike title...
in race 1 and Noriyuki Haga
Noriyuki Haga
, is a Japanese professional motorcycle racer. Haga has been runner-up in the Superbike World Championship three times, and has finished 3rd in the series four times....
in race 2. He briefly led the very next race at Donington Park
2008 Donington Park Superbike World Championship round
The 2008 Donington Park Superbike World Championship round was the eleventh round of the 2008 Superbike World Championship season. It took place on the weekend of 5-7 September 2008, at the Donington Park circuit.-Superbike race 1 classification:...
, but fell on lap 2. However, he did win the second race in very wet conditions, visibly sliding the rear end of his bike on many occasions. Kiyonari broke his collarbone in a testing crash at Magny Cours, 2 weeks prior to the event, meaning he missed the race.
For 2009, Kiyo stayed with the Ten Kate Honda team, partnering Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea. His bike was backed by Honda Europe rather than Hannspree. After a somewhat unsuccessful season, he finished 11th in the championship standings.
Return to British Superbikes
In September 2009, Kiyonari returned to British Superbikes to make a wildcard appearance at Croft CircuitCroft Circuit
Croft Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, England. The tarmac circuit is just over long and is based on the lands of an airfield, but has long since moved on from being a basic airfield circuit...
, replacing the injured Glen Richards
Glen Richards
Glen Richards is an Australian superbike rider born in Adelaide but now lives in Hinckley, Leicestershire. He has won the British Supersport and Superstock championships, and has been a regular front-runner in the primary British Superbike class....
. He finished fourth in race one before finishing race two in 18th position.
In December 2009, he was confirmed as one of HM Plant Honda's riders for the 2010 British Superbike Championship season, partnering Australian rider Josh Brookes
Josh Brookes
Joshua 'Josh' Brookes born in Sydney, New South Wales in Australia and is a professional motorcycle road racer.He has experience of Superbike and Supersport racing, both domestically and internationally.-Early career:...
. At Cadwell Park he won race one but retired from race two before it began, due to a technical problem on the warm-up lap. He scored a double win at Mallory Park
Mallory Park
Mallory Park is a motor racing circuit situated in the village of Kirkby Mallory, just off the A47, between Leicester and Hinckley. With the full car circuit measuring only 1.35 miles it is amongst the shortest permanent race circuits in the UK...
, lifting him to fourth overall in the standings.
2011 sees Kiyonari staying with HM Plant Honda in the British Superbike Championship, alongside two time BSB Champion Shane Byrne
Shane Byrne (motorcycle racer)
Shane 'Shakey' Byrne , often known as Shakey, is a British motorcycle road racer. He is a two-time champion of the British Superbike Championship , a race winner in the Superbike World Championship and a former competitor in MotoGP.-Early days:While working as a road tester for Colin Schiller's...
External links
- sportnetwork.net Rider profile