MCE INSURANCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 10 SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER DONINGTON PARK HONDA’S KIYONARI AND BYRNE IN SHOWDOWN FOR THE TITLE Defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and his HM Plant Honda team-mate Shane Byrne begin their final push towards securing the 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike crown at Donington Park as they line up in the first two of the seven end of season Showdown races that will determined the outcome of the country’s premier title. The points scoring system used in the series is such that after the previous round at Cadwell Park the top six riders in the standings are elevated to “title-fighter” status and only they can battle for the top spot. Each of the six had his points tally raised to 500 to which were added bonus points based on their podium finishes. Joining Kiyonari and Byrne in the Showdown, which has a real International flavour about it, are the Yamaha team-mates Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty together with former MotoGP rider John Hopkins of America and Australian Josh Brookes who while both ride Suzuki are from opposing teams. Hill, who took his race winning tally to seven in the previous round, heads the standings going into the races on the full Donington Park Grand Prix circuit by seven points from Byrne who is aiming to the take title for a third time. Kiyonari who made the cut after nervous, but determined performances at the Lincolnshire circuit is sixth and 21 points down on Hill, but feels he can make that deficit. The six riders now score points on the normal scale with no bonus points for top three finishes. Byrne, who having already qualified for the Showdown ahead of the Cadwell Park round used those races to test various parts, including rear shocks and front fork springs, believes that with his hard working team he has found the key for a return to winning form. He goes into the races at the Leicestershire circuit with a degree of confidence, and a strong track record there having twice recorded the daily double there amid five wins in total. Kiyonari enjoyed the first winning double of his BSB career at Donington Park back in 2004 and in six subsequent races has only finished off the podium there once. Like Byrne, he feels improvements made since the last round will be put him in with a real chance of taking the title for a record fourth time. He is also well aware that nothing goes to plan in the Showdown having surprised everyone last term in the final round having started in third place in the standings by snatching the crown as Hill tumbled. The races are not just about the six “title-fighters” with the rest of the pack, while scrapping for seventh place and the Superbike Cup, for which Tyco Honda’s Peter Hickman is well placed and keen to show what might have been and also at this stage of the season to turn the eye of team bosses with next year’s contracts in mind. One rider who is doing that at the moment is WFR Honda’s Graeme Gowland in the BSB-EVO class in which he is putting together a string of impressive rides after the set-back of early season injury. Gowland has his eyes on second place in the class title stakes which are being comfortably led by his team-mate Glen Richards. Quotes from Honda riders ahead of the races. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant): “For these races at my favourite circuit we have ideas for improving the bike. We have had more time on the bike to understand where we can improve and to go forwards. Before the last round I was half looking forward to it and half nervous about it and I feel the same now about Donington Park. These Showdown races will be harder with different pressures to the rest of the season. There are many different stories that can happen in the Showdown. I cannot afford to make any mistakes to be champion you have to win races.” Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda): “I’m looking forward to these races. We’ve had a lot of ideas since the last round at Cadwell Park during which we tested a number of new parts. We found something then that should make our life easier and there is no reason why we cannot have a Showdown doing what we were in the first part of the season which was winning races and taking podium places. We’ve formulated our plan of attack and will be working hard, giving 110% and there is no reason not to be number one at the end of the season.”