Kiyonari does Brands Hatch double.

Kiyonari does Brands Hatch double.

Ryuichi Kiyonari today took his first World Superbike victory in round ten of the 2008 championship at Brands Hatch, and followed up with his second win in race two.

The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider started both races from third place on the grid and, in the first outing, shadowed championship leader Troy Bayliss for 17 of the 25 laps around the 3.7km circuit. Kiyonari took his Honda CBR1000RR past Bayliss at the fast Hawthorns right-hander on lap 22 and held the Australian at bay for the remaining laps to take his maiden win.

In race two, the Japanese ace proved that he could lead from the front, slipping past race leader Noriyuki Haga before mid-race distance and leading all the way to the chequered flag.

Carlos Checa, on his first visit to Brands Hatch, finished sixth in race one and eighth in race two, scoring further valuable points to retain fourth place in the championship. Meanwhile, Kenan Sofuoglu, took 13th and 17th places.

Ryuichi Kiyonari – 1st and 1st:
I’m so happy, I cannot really believe it. We have been near the top of the leader board in all the sessions this weekend so we knew that we had a good race set up. The team worked hard to give me a great bike for both races and finally we have a win – no, two wins! – to celebrate. It wasn’t easy – I found it difficult to pass and I made a couple of mistakes. In race one, I was very nervous for the last few laps but in race two I was able to keep a good pace right to the end.

Carlos Checa – 6th and 8th:
I cannot say that I am happy with the results but I have to be satisfied after the problems we have had this weekend. Of course, Brands Hatch was a new circuit for me to learn and we found it difficult to find a good setting for the bike. I had a problem with the left-hander going onto the back of the circuit and this is a corner you must get right to carry speed for the rest of the lap.

Kenan Sofuoglu – 13th and 17th:
Of course, I am disappointed – especially because I couldn’t move forward from the results in Brno. We made a change after the first race and my pace was definitely better. But after a good start, I got blocked in at the first corner and then found it hard to pass Laconi and Walker. However, I am looking forward to a little holiday before coming back stronger at Donington.

Ronald ten Kate – team manager:
Now and then, Ryuichi is speechless but, this weekend, we are the ones who are speechless because of his stunning performance. Of course, it is much easier to display his undoubted talent on a track that he knows well, but to fight off Bayliss in race one and Haga in race two shows the scale of his achievement. Carlos did OK for his first ever visit to Brands Hatch and I’m quite sure that, with a year under his belt, he will come back stronger next year. Unfortunately, Kenan could not match his Brno results. I’m looking forward to a short holiday now but, this year, I cannot wait for Donington.

World Superbike championship, round 10 – results:
Race 1:
1 R Kyonari (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
2 T Bayliss (Ducati)
3 M Biaggi (Ducati)
6 C Checa (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
13 K Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)

Race2:
1 R Yonari (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
2 N Haga (Yamaha)
3 T Corser (Yamaha)
8 C Checa (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
17 K Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)

Championship points after ten of 14 rounds:
1 T Bayliss 334
2 M Neukirchner 252
3 T Corser 242
4 C Checa 233
8 R Kyonari 165
16 K Sofuoglu 47

Next round: Donington Park, GB - 7 September