Kiyonari wins Brands race two by 19secs!
Wet weather and tyre choice played into Ryiuchi Kiyonari's hands today at Brands Hatch in Kent. Kiyonari opted to run full wets in the mixed weather conditions and it paid off, by lap twelve of the thirty lap race he was starting to lap all the top riders!
Wet weather and tyre choice played into Ryiuchi Kiyonari's hands today at Brands Hatch in Kent. Kiyonari opted to run full wets in the mixed weather conditions and it paid off, by lap twelve of the thirty lap race he was starting to lap all the top riders!
Leon Haslam who was passed race fit for race two after high siding out of second place in race one finished second. He was running on intermediates whilst his team-mate Gregorio Lavilla was on full slicks, since the track conditions went from wet, to drying out, to wet again, Haslam's intermediate tyres kicked in and gave him the legs over Lavilla. Haslam hurt his wrist and ankle during his race one crash.
Lavilla managed to hold onto third place despite running the race on full slick tyres. By mid race it looked like he was going to struggle with his tyre choice as he started to miss his apex, however he stayed smooth and finished in third place.
Man of the meeting was without a doubt was young Australian Billy McConnell on the Virgin Mobile Yamaha. McConnell was running on a Pirelli wet front and an intermediate rear and worked his way up to second place during the chaotic race. Unfortunately for the nineteen year old he touched a wet curb stone on the exit of Graham Hill bend and crashed out with just seven laps to go.
Michael Rutter retired during the race with set up concerns, whilst his team-mate Michael Laverty crashed out on the final lap. Ollie Bridewell on the Vivaldi Suzuki also took advantage of the weather and worked his way into tenth place.
Top privateer was Marty Nutt who came home in the Superbike championship points by finishing in fifteenth place to pick up one point.
This race will go down in history as one of the most spectacular races in British Superbikes. Kiyonari charging through the traffic and lapping riders that are usually front runners was absolutely incredible to watch.
BSB race results - Brands Hatch:
1.Ryuichi Kiyonari
2.Leon Haslam
3.Gregorio Lavilla
4.Craig Coxhell
5.Karl Harris
6.Tommy Hill
7.James Haydon
8.Dean Thomas
9.Glen Richards
10.Ollie Bridewell
Louise Cain
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
