MCE British Superbike Championship

Knockhill Circuit, Scotland

June 29, 2014

Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), 30 laps, 24:26.947

2. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -4.861 seconds

3. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -5.908

4. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -6.143

5. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -7.819

6. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -7.885

7. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -16.302

8. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -17.270

9. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -17.356

10. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), -23.135

11. Richard Cooper, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -23.417

12. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Duc 1199 Panigale), -23.732

13. Michael Rutter, UK (BMW S1000RR), -24.744

14. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -25.074

15. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -32.015

16. Ben Wilson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -32.983

17. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -33.130

18. Ian Hutchinson, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -42.237

19. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -1 lap

20. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -14 laps, DNF

21. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -15 laps, DNF

22. John Ingram, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -16 laps, DNF

23. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), -18 laps, DNF

24. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -29 laps, DNF

Race Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 30 laps, 24:24.655

2. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), -0.176 second

3. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -6.349 seconds

4. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -7.975

5. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -10.595

6. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -14.755

7. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -16.838

8. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -17.762

9. Richard Cooper, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -20.479

10. Michael Rutter, UK (BMW S1000RR), -20.943

11. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -32.567

12. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Duc 1199 Panigale), -32.874

13. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -35.041

14. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -38.019

15. Ian Hutchinson, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -38.345

16. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), -38.571

17. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap

18. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -1 lap

19. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -14 laps, DNF

20. Ben Wilson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -26 laps, DNF

21. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -30 laps, DNF

22. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), -30 laps, DNF

Other Americans competing at Knockhill:

James Rispoli, riding his Team Traction Control Suzuki GSX-R600, got 11th in the Motorpoint British Supersport Feature Race. Rispoli finished 26.078 seconds behind race winner Luke Mossey, who ride a Triumph.

Jayson Uribe, riding his FPW Racing/R5R Honda, was third overall and third in the Moto3 class in the Motul British Motostar race. Uribe finished 9.256 seconds behind overall race winner Jordan Weaving, who rode a KTM.

Anthony Alonso, riding his SP125/BARF Racing Honda, DNF the Motul British Motostar race.

Ben Young, a former AMA Pro regular and resident of Canada who rides a Team WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10R, took 21st in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc race. Young finished 37.736 seconds behind race winner Danny Buchan, who rode a Kawasaki ZX-10R.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:

Round 4 Knockhill 29 June
KIYONARI MAKES HISTORY WITH BMW’S FIRST VICTORY IN MCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

Results

Race one:1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW)
2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 4.861s
3: Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +5.908s
4: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +6.143s
5: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +7.819s
6: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +7.885s

Race two:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +0.176s
3: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +6.349s
4: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +7.975s
5: Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +10.595s
6: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +14.755s

Championship standings:

1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 190
2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 111
3: James Ellison (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 108
4: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 88
5: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 82
6: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 76

Report

Ryuichi Kiyonari powered BMW to their historic first ever victory in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland today. The Japanese rider came tantalisingly close to making it a double, but was denied the victory by just 0.176s in race two by Shane “Shakey” Byrne after an epic duel between the triple title-winners.

It was Kiyonari’s first victory in three years and the result was even more impressive after he bounced back from a crash during the morning warm-up session. Kiyonari made the perfect get-away on his Buildbase BMW to lead throughout the opening race with Byrne pushing to overcome a sluggish start and unable to close the gap in the final stages.

Kiyonari reflected: “I was very nervous before the start as I was very disappointed to have the crash which was my big mistake. When the race started though it went and I thought ‘I can’t let Shakey’ get me’. I got the gap and tried hard to hold off Shakey which is never easy, but I enjoyed the race and the win. It feels so good to win again.”

Byrne blamed himself for his slow start and despite giving chase to his rival was forced to settle for second ahead of his team-mate Stuart Easton who scored his first podium finish of the season at his home round.

Byrne was determined to set the record straight in race two, but he was unable to shake off the resurgent Kiyonari who closed him down and then snatched the lead with a decisive move at the Hairpin. The Buildbase BMW rider had the edge until a dramatic moment when he was flicked up out of the seat and it handed Byrne the opportunity to pass. Kiyonari hadn’t given up though and chased him down hard, closing from 0.8s to just 0.176s at the finish line and within striking distance of his rival.

Byrne said: “It’s fair to say that Kiyo has been the man to beat all weekend, his pace has been phenomenal. He came past me and then when he made a mistake I knew that was my chance. I got it back, but he still tried to get me, like a little robot with a chip in him not wanting to give up.”

Kiyonari added: “I am disappointed to not have won again. I am happy to show that I can still win and finish on the podium and I have to thank the team. I was strong in race two and Shakey was very fast but it was difficult and I made mistakes. Next time I will try for no mistakes and for more podiums or wins at Brands Hatch, my favourite circuit.”

Walker, despite the pain of a broken finger sustained in a crash during Friday free practice returned to the podium in third place ahead of a dissapointed Brookes and Easton.

For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com

More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport:

Knockhill Victory For Jubilant Byrne, Easton On Podium

Shane Byrne and the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team’s pursuit of the 2014 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship showed no signs of abating at Knockhill today with the former triple MCE BSB champion taking a victory in race two to add to his second place in the opening race to extend his title lead even further.

After taking third place in Saturday’s solitary Datatag Extreme qualifying session, a sluggish start in the opening 30-lap race left ‘Shakey’ down in fifth on the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at the end of the first lap and with considerable work to do around the tight, demanding 1.26-mile circuit.

However, the 37-year-old Sittingbourne rider was able to steadily move forward and he finally took over second place on the tenth lap and although he tried to close the gap to race leader Ryuichi Kiyonari, the deficit proved to be too big and he wisely settled for second place.

He made amends at the start of the second race and a perfect getaway allowed him to take the lead at the very first corner and for the entire 30 laps it was a head to head battle between him and Kiyonari, the two most successful riders in BSB history.

The Japanese rider briefly nosed ahead in the final third of the race but Shakey fought back and re-took the lead a lap later, duly crossing the line for his sixth win of the season and upping his winning tally to 57 career victories. .

Team-mate Stuart Easton also had reason to celebrate as the Hawick rider delighted the local fans as he took his first podium of the year at his home circuit for the Penrith-based team. The diminutive Scot made a brilliant start from the second row to immediately slot into third place at the beginning of the opening race and he successfully fought off the close attention of Josh Brookes in the closing stages to claim a strong rostrum finish.

The 30-year-old made another good start in the second race on the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and slotted into third in the early stages but by lap seven he had been pushed back to fifth, The reigning British Supersport champion held station to the finish although with good points from both races, he is just two points off sixth position meaning he’s well in contention for a coveted Showdown placing later in the season.

Byrne’s win means he has taken six victories out of the eight races to date for the Cumbrian team, finishing second in the other two to lead the title race by 79 points after four rounds. He has upped his tally to a record 57 MCE BSB wins and has also opened up a gap of 22 points in the important Podium Credits score which will become vital when the end of season Showdown takes place to decide the winner of the series.

Shane Byrne: “I threw the first race away at the beginning as I wasn’t watching the lights properly meaning everyone had gone so it left me a lot of work to do. I got up to second and pushed hard for a few laps but the gap to Kiyo stayed constant and fair play to him for setting such a hard, fast pace so I decided to bring the bike home for second as it would have been too risky to push any harder. Kiyo was the man to beat all weekend as he was so consistent but I made a great start in the second race and although he briefly got by me, he made a mistake the lap after and I just went for it. We’ve struggled a bit all weekend as I’ve been chasing a good set-up with the front end so full credit to the team as we changed things again for the second race and, hopefully, that win repays them for all their hard work. “

Stuart Easton: “It’s good to get my first podium of the year, especially with it coming at my home round of Knockhill. I got a good start, which definitely helped as it’s hard to pass here and Shakey helped me a bit too as he dragged me along for the first 20 laps. I felt really strong but then struggled in the latter stages so I was delighted to bring the bike home for a good third place. There didn’t seem to be as much grip in the second race as there was earlier in the day and I didn’t have the pace to go with the front guys so I did as much as I could. It’s never easy to finish inside the top five of an MCE BSB race so I’m pleased with the result and it’s been a good weekend with a good haul of points. The next three circuits are ones I really enjoy so I’ll be looking for more of the same, and, hopefully, more podiums, there.”

Paul Bird: “A good weekend with strong performances from both Shakey and Stuart and to come away with a win and two podiums is a fantastic result. It’s all about scoring points and Podium Credits at this stage in the season so we achieved that here at Knockhill. I’m pleased to see Kiyo back to winning ways so congratulations to him and his team and we look forward to doing battle again at Brands Hatch next time. Well done to my team also as they worked really hard this weekend and on the back of Broc Parkes scoring a brilliant 11th place for us in the MotoGP race at Assen yesterday, it’s been a very good weekend all round.”

MCE British Superbike Championship Race One (30 laps)

1 Ryuichi Kiyonari (BMW)

2 Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

3 Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

4 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)

5 Chris Walker (Kawasaki)

6 Tommy Bridewell (Yamaha)

MCE British Superbike Championship Race Two (30 laps)

1 Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

2 Ryuichi Kiyonari (BMW)

3 Chris Walker (Kawasaki)

4 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)

5 Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

6 Dan Linfoot (Kawasaki)

Championship standings (after four rounds)

1 Byrne 190pts

2 Brookes 111

3 Ellison 108

4 Bridewell 88

5 Kiyonari 82

6 Walker 76

7 Easton 74

The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki MCE British Superbike Championship Team is running alongside the PBM MotoGP Team with riders Michael Laverty and Broc Parkes. Additionally, Paul Bird is running a full campaign in the REIS BTRDA Rally Series as well as selected International events in his Ford Focus WRC07. Both bike racing teams are sporting the colours of British Racing Green in deference to the team’s proud British heritage.

The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship takes place at Brands Hatch over the weekend of July 18/20th. For more information, please visit www.britishsuperbike.com and www.pbmuk.net.