Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari overcame nerves to set the quickest time of the weekend so far – a 1’29.455 during the MCE British Superbike qualifying sessions at Donington Park this afternoon, and after being on the pace throughout every outing at the Leicestershire track he left his best lap till last to bag pole.
Kiyo went two tenths under lap record pace during Q3 and toppled both JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison and PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne from provisional pole. He is one very happy rider this evening, but doesn’t want to make any mistakes and in particular crash during the double header on Monday.
Kiyo missed out on some pre-season testing sessions and has been using every outing this weekend to get as much track time as possible on his BMW, but he has a fourth BSB title in his sights and hopes he doesn’t succumb to the tricky Donington track during the opening race of 2015.
“I am very happy but before Q3 I was very, very nervous, but now I am happy,” said a very jubilant Kiyonari, speaking from the circuit.
“The main feedback at the end of the session is that the machine is good, and it is very smooth. But I am always nervous for qualifying. I think the races will be close tomorrow, and I will keep pushing and I don’t want to make a mistake and I don’t want anymore crashes.”
