Buildbase BMW Motorrad plan to close the Podium Credits gap at Donington Park.

Ryuichi Kiyonari and the Buildbase BMW Motorrad team are targeting a perfect ten Podium Credits at Donington Park, hoping to close the gap on Shakey Byrne and Josh Brookes in the final pre-Showdown round of the MCE British Superbike Championship.

Kiyo is third in the championship and third in the crucial Podium Credits rankings, which will come into effect for the final three rounds following Donington Park.

The Showdown, a thrilling finale to the British Superbike season, sees the top six riders’ points reset at 500, plus an additional ‘Podium Credits’ bonus of five points for each race win, three for a second and a point for a third. From then, race points will be added normally and one of the six riders will win the 2014 Championship Title.

The three-time champion’s hopes of another double win at Cadwell Park were dashed buy an unlucky electrical failure, which forced him to retire while leading the first race. However, Kiyonari is unfazed and is ready to bounce back at Donington Park, where he wants more wins and more Podium Credits.

James Westmoreland’s return to racing after a three-round absence caused by a fractured thumb took place at Cadwell Park, and the Yorkshire rider is keen to push the pace further and challenge for a BSB podium this season. Last year at Donington Park, Westmoreland secured BMW Motorrad’s first ever BSB Pole Position, securing his place in the German manufacturer’s history books.

Lee Jackson is currently third in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship and recently celebrated his first ever win in the series on his BMW HP4. Recent podium finishes – including a third place at the British round of MotoGP where the Superstock series was a support race – have brought Jackson to within 22 points of the current second place rider Jason O’Halloran and, with three races left this season, the young Lincolnshire rider could overtake him in the standings.

Stuart Hicken, Team Owner, said: “We are third in the Championship and Kiyo has a guaranteed spot in the Showdown, which was always our aim for the 2014 Season. To have taken four wins as well is just fantastic. At Cadwell Park we had a double dose of bad luck, with an electrical fault DNF and Kiyo’s crash in race two. Unfortunately the bike was so damaged that we weren’t able to get it ready in time for the Assen test last week.

“However, we were the fastest bike at race pace all weekend at Cadwell Park, I’ve got all three riders fit and chomping at the bit and we’re heading to our home race at Donington Park. Last year Westy took a spectacular double Pole Position there and Kiyo is happy just about anywhere with tarmac and a bike, so I expect a great weekend all round. The aim is to take two race wins and close the gap on Shakey, and then we start to think about the Championship and the Showdown.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari said: “Cadwell Park was disappointing for me and the team because it had been very positive in free practice and qualifying, although I thought I could have gone faster in Q3. My race pace was good because we had done some long runs during the first two days, so I knew I could fight with Shakey, Josh, and Tommy.

“I now look at Donington Park as a second home round – mine was Cadwell Park and now this weekend it is the team’s local circuit. We have lots of positives from the last races and I think that some of this will transfer to next weekend. We are improving all the time and this should be a good track for me. I was a little bit sore at the start of the week, but now I want to get to Donington Park and be fighting for the wins again – nothing else!”

The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park on 5/6/7 September – the Showdown decider. For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Cadwell Park:

1) Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 353

2) Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 257

3) Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) 202

4) Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 183

5) Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 170

6) Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 160