HM Plant Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari has taken the first British Superbike race win at Oulton Park this afternoon, carving his way through the field from his third-row start to pass Michael Laverty on lap 11 for the lead and crossing the line three seconds ahead of the chasing John Hopkins.
Kiyonari, who has struggled in practice and qualifying, put on a passing masterclass which started with Dan Linfoot on lap six to finally go past the Swan Yamaha of Laverty. The Irishman then began to suffer arm pump which allowed Hopkins and Stuart Easton past.
Laverty led from the start with the Relentless Suzuki of Josh Brookes, Easton, Shane Byrne and Hopkins in attendance and the American made short work of the Scot and the Kent man to take third in one lap, while Byrne passed Easton for fourth on lap two.
Sorrymate Honda's Dan Linfoot also got away well and found himself going past Michael Rutter for sixth place on the second lap as Laverty stretched his lead to a quarter of a second at the start of lap three. Hopkins staked his claim for the podium, passing Brookes into Island as Linfoot started to chase Easton.
On lap five, Easton found his rhythm, going under Shane Byrne into Old Hall and then putting the same pass on Brookes a lap later to take second place as Laverty began to come back to the pack. Kiyonari, meanwhile, set the first of a string of fast laps to take sixth from Linfoot.
Lap seven saw Kiyonari go past team-mate Byrne while Easton had to take to the grass at Hizzy's after outbraking himself trying a pass on Hopkins, re-joining in fourth.
Kiyonari then made short work of the remaining riders and had pulled half a second on Laverty at the start of lap 13 as Hopkins passed Laverty and Easton followed him. Byrne put a move on Brookes into Hizzy's a lap later and then went under Laverty on lap 16.
Hopkins looked safe in second but thought he had seen the chequered flag and slowed, allowing Easton to catch - he was soon made aware of his mistake.
Byrne eventually took fourth with Laverty fifth and and Brookes in sixth. The second Samsung Suzuki of Jon Kirkham came through for seventh, Loris Baz was eighth, Gary Mason ninth and Linfoot tenth.
Alex Lowes easily won the Evo class with Scott Smart second and Barry Burrell third. Simon Andrews crashed out of third place on lap 16 and Glen Richards did the same out of second on the penultimate lap.
Grid for race two:
Kiyonari (pole), Lowes, Brookes, Easton
Rutter, Byrne, Kirkham, Hopkins
