BYRNE AIMS TO TIGHTEN GRIP ON TITLE AS KIYONARI KICK STARTS HIS CAMPAIGN Shane Byrne has the advantage in the MCE Insurance British Superbike title stakes going into the fifth round at the Scottish circuit, Knockhill, but while he is in a strong position, his HM Plant Honda team-mate the reigning champion Ryuichi Kiyonari has to fight back after two difficult rounds. Kiyonari is on the back foot, needing to re-group to put his bid to take country’s premier crown for a fourth time firmly back on course. A combination of inclement weather with tyre choice gambles and machine setting problems coupled with a lack of confidence to push-on hard, has resulted in the Japanese rider taking only seven points from his last four races. That has dropped Kiyonari out of the top six in the rankings going into the second third of the season, and while that is not of immediate concern, he knows that he needs to climb back and consolidate his position as only the leading six riders go forward into the “Title Showdown” over the final seven races of the season. Kiyonari has a good track record at this circuit, with three victories and three other podium finishes in previous years, and he is now fully focussed on setting the record straight as he begins he quest to peg the 71 points by which he trails series leading Byrne in the title stakes. Byrne, who has won three of the eight races so far, heads the title chase by 15 points from Suzuki’s former MotoGP rider John Hopkins, and is confident that he can increase that lead, even though he has bitter-sweet memories of riding the Fife circuit. Byrne has won four times at this circuit, including a winning double in 2003 as he took the first of his two British titles but five years on, as he took the crown again, he took a second place and then painfully high-sided off. Byrne shrugs those memories to one side and concentrates on the job in hand as he prepares for the challenges coming in from Yamaha riders Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty. The rider who could spring a surprise, posing problems to the front-running pack as he did at Thruxton, is Peter Hickman riding last year’s title winning Fireblade now in Tyco Honda colours. The Lincolnshire rider is growing in stature and could again be mixing it at the leading edge as could Alex Lowes, who having switched from riding in the BSB-EVO class to race Kawasaki, is looking a potential race winner. Meanwhile the WFR Honda team who parted company with Lowes in a contractual wrangle after the Croft round have signed the twice AMA Formula Extreme Champion and the runner-up in the American Superbike series Jake Zemke to ride alongside Glen Richards and Graeme Gowland in the “back to basics” BSB-EVO class. Honda rider quotes ahead of the Knockhill round: Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda): “I quite like the track and they are always good, fun races although in saying that last time I raced there back in 2008 I had a big crash! We only go north of the border once so I want to put on a good show for the fans up there and I am sure we will. Last year both HM Plant Hondas were on the podium so looking at that it should be another good track for us. It would certainly be good to get another win or two and I am sure the team will have everything ready to go so we can get out there for the races and try and keep the momentum going.” Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda): “The last two rounds have been disappointing for me and I haven’t had the results that we need for the championship. At Knockhill I need to come back and be fighting with Shakey and the other riders so we can be back in the top six which is so important. I have said before I am not happy unless I am winning or on the podium, so we need to find a good setting in practice and qualifying so I can push again in the race.” Jake Zemke (WFR Honda): “I’m delighted to be coming to the UK at last and starting the next chapter of my career. I have always been an admirer of BSB and have wanted to race here for quite some time so I would like to thank Team WFR who have made that dream a reality. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in to their exciting Evo project at Knockhill and racing against some of the best riders in the world at the remaining rounds of the season.”