MCE INSURANCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 01 MONDAY APRIL 25 BRANDS HATCH INDY CIRCUIT KIYONARI TARGETS DOUBLE VICTORIES IN OPENING ROUND AS HE BIDS FOR TITLE NUMBER FOUR Ryuichi Kiyonari is aiming for winning rides to stake an early claim for an unprecedented fourth British Superbike title as he lines up aboard his HM Plant Honda for the opening round of the MCE Insurance backed series on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit on Easter Monday, April 25. The Japanese rider put in a late winning charge to secure the crown in the closing stages of last season, but this time around is focused on taking charge from the start, although he knows that will not be easy given the depth of quality amid the buoyant 38 bikes starting grid. Kiyonari took a podium finish in the corresponding round of last year, but intends better things this time around, concentrating on strong qualifying and then a fast get-away to the races, so important on this short, fast, Kent circuit. He faces severe challenges, not least from his new team-mate Shane Byrne who is back on the domestic scene after two tough years in the World Championship. Byrne is raring to go on his home circuit where he has a strong winning pedigree, including a double victory as a “wild-card” rider in World Superbike action in 2003 the season, in which he won the first of his two British Superbike titles. Byrne and Kiyonari have all-new Honda CBR1000RR machines for the races, built at the team’s Louth, Lincolnshire headquarters, and they have developed them further in pre-season testing to have them fully prepared for the opening races. Here they will come against last year’s title winning machinery, running now in Tyco colours, with the young Wiltshire rider Tommy Bridewell keen to develop his career, building on his performances of last season. Bridewell, and his team-mate Peter Hickman, could pose problems as the season progresses, as will Steve Brogan, the BSB-EVO title winner of last year who graduates into the main series aboard a Jentin prepared Honda Fireblade, but there will be the ever present threat of MotoGP rider John Hopkins. The American made a stunning return to the sport’s elite MotoGP series, taking a 10th place in the Jerez round, earlier in the month, after a two year break, but for Hopkins the main focus of the season is the challenge for the British crown, riding for Suzuki. He faces a steep learning curve as all of the circuits, with the exception of Donington Park are new to him. Josh Brookes, the runner-up in the title chase last season to his then team-mate Kiyonari, is also riding Suzuki this time around, and the Australian has settled strongly to the bike, looking to go one-better in the rankings. Tommy Hill, like Byrne, is looking forward to racing the opening round on his local circuit, and is aiming high as he believes he has unfinished business in the series. Last season he was the dominant force in the title chase, only to falter in the final stages, taking a costly tumble and seeing the crown slip from his grasp. He has switched teams, from Suzuki to Yamaha, as he steps up his bid for the silverware. French teenager Loris Baz, who made a big impact on the British scene in the latter part of last season, continues with the Yamaha team while Flying Scot Stuart Easton heads up the Kawasaki challenge with John Laverty and Ian Lowry riding BMWs while the most experience rider in the pack, Michael Rutter, a veteran of 347 British Superbike races, is aboard a Ducati. And, for the first time, there is lady riding in the top class. Jenny Tinmouth will be competing on Aprilia. Glen Richards, a former winner of the British Supersport and Superstock titles, heads the entry for the “back to basics” BSB-EVO class, as he lines up for the WFR Honda team along with Alex Lowes and Graeme Gowland. For the opening round there is an additional practice session, with the action beginning on Friday April 22. More practice on Saturday, qualifying on Sunday with the two 30 laps races on Easter Monday April 25. HONDA RIDER COMMENTS: Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda): “For me the Brands Hatch Indy circuit is difficult, it is so short, so you need good qualifying and a good start is essential and this year the entry is very strong. The races will be hard, never easy! It is good to have Shane in the team. We work together well especially with machine development. He has much experience. The bike is hard to improve, but my feeling is that this year we have made big steps. The team is good and my target has to be to win both races.” Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda): “It is strange coming back as you spend time working through the ranks to get into the World Championship, then things don’t go as they should have, so I am quite excited to come back to such a good team. Our credentials are good and I am ready to get cracking. It will be interesting, and I want to do the best job that I can starting with Brands Hatch. I love the place and have missed racing there, so rolling down Paddock Hill for the first time will be great. As for Kiyo, every rider wants to beat their team-mate and it is time Kiyo shared the title around, 3-2 to him doesn’t sound as good as 3-3 for me by the end of the season. I’m with a top team and want top results.” Tommy Bridewell (TYCO Honda): “The whole of our team is being built to a higher and newer spec and we are shaping up well. Brands will be good and I intend to go out there and show them what I can do. I know that I can win races . Our bikes are last year’s championship winning bikes. Everything is ready to race. Everyone out there believes they can win, there is a lot of hot air spoken, but only seven or eight can win and I know that I can.” Steve Brogan (Jentin Honda): “I’m feeling confident, can be competitive and am really excited to have a new bike, a privateer bike built by Jentin in the main championship. I’m adapting to the electronics and the added horsepower and am up for the challenge, feeling good. My aim is to be in the top six to be among the ‘title-fighters’ for the end of the season showdown, by then having a win under my belt and regular podium finishes.”