Double winner Ryuichi Kiyonari on track to retain crown

BSB Champ Ryuichi Kiyonari moved ahead in the Bennetts British Superbike title stakes as he completed a winning double in the fifth round at Snetterton finishing ahead of his HM Plant Honda team-mate Jonathan Rea in each of the races at the Norfolk circuit. The maximum points haul, an action replay of the Japanese rider's results of last year, coupled with a day of misery for Gregorio Lavilla, combined to put the reigning champion ahead in the standings for the first time this season.

Former BSB Champion Gregorio Lavilla, who had begun the day with a 29 points advantage, took a bruising when he tipped off his Airwaves Ducati during the warm-up session, and then ran a distant sixth in the opening race, with worse to come when his Airwaves Ducati ground to a halt in the early stages of the second race.

Kiyonari, who had hit double top in the previous round at Oulton Park, was riding confidently, although it was the determined Rea who made the better start to lead the action with Leon Haslam, aboard the second Airwaves bike, tucked in behind him. Kiyonari was third but soon closing in on Haslam and easing ahead before reeling in the young Ulsterman.

He was leading the race at the halfway point but as the high-speed duel developed, Rea was giving nothing, often running less than a quarter of a second down, in what was to be a vain pursuit.

"Very happy to pull back 14 points on Greg but I am not thinking about the championship, just winning races which is something that I enjoy. I had to be very fast to stay ahead of Jonathan," reflected Kiyonari, with Rea commenting: "Kiyo set a real good pace and he had a good drive out of the corners."

Haslam settled for third, ahead of Tom Sykes, flying the Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda flag well following the retirement with a machine problem of his team-mate, former champion, Shane Byrne. Leon Camier, who had started from the back of the grid provided an exciting charge through the pack to take fifth place ahead of Lavilla, Tommy Hill, Cal Crutchlow and Chris Walker.

Rea again made a perfect start with Haslam, Byrne and Kiyonari in hot pursuit but it was not long before it was an HM Plant double at the front with the young Ulsterman trying everything he knew to preserve his advantage.

Kiyonari was not prepared to settle for a second best and again was ahead at half distance with Byrne also snatching third place from Haslam but by then Lavilla was a dejected spectator. The Japanese rider completed his fifth victory of the season, one that puts him 190-179 ahead of Lavilla in the standings.

"I like winning races, that I enjoy, but still a long way to go," said Kiyonari with Rea left wondering what he was to do to taste the victor's champagne for the first time in the top flight. Byrne held onto third place, commenting: "I needed a bit more that that after the first race but credit to the team for finding the problem with the bike and fixing it so quickly."

Sykes completed his best day in the championship as he came in fourth, ahead of Haslam and Camier in a race that had a three lap intervention by the Audi Safety Car after Michael Rutter tumbled heavily at the chicane, though escaping injury.

Marty Nutt enjoyed a winning British Superbike Cup double aboard the NuttTravel.com Yamaha with James Buckingham taking second placings aboard his Quay Garage Honda.

Results:

Round Five - Bennetts British Superbike Championship

Race One - 22 laps

1- R Kiyonari HM Plant Honda 24m 00.140secs, 107.33mph
2- J Rea HM Plant Honda 24:00.417
3- L Haslam Airwaves Ducati 24:08.349
4- T Sykes Stobart Honda 24:13:121
5- L Camier Bike Animal Honda 24:14.325
6- G Lavilla Airwaves Ducati 24:14.519

Fastest lap: Lavilla 1m 04.730secs, 108.54mph

Race Two - 24 laps

1- R Kiyonari HM Plant Honda 26:56.071
2- J Rea HM Plant Honda 26:56.696
3- S Byrne Stobart Honda 26:56.991
4- T Sykes Stobart Honda 27:00.311
5- L Haslam Airwaves Ducati 27:00.383
6- L Camier Bike Animal Honda 27:01.721

Fastest lap: Kiyonari 1:04.77, 108.46mph

Championship standings:

1- R Kiyonari 190
2- G Lavilla 179
3- J Rea 149
4- L Haslam 131
5- L Camier 117
6- T Sykes 106

(Nick Harris Media Communications)