Ryuichi Kiyonari has had to pause his racing career to undergo spinal surgery.

The former British Superbike Champion broke his spine in 2022 whilst competing in the All Japan Superbike Championship.

At the time Kiyonari had a metal fitting inserted onto his spine so he could continue racing. Since the operation, the 42-year-old competed in the 2023 and 2024 Championships finishing in 7th and 12th in the standings.

However, the veteran Japanese rider has not announced his 2025 plans as of yet. But Kiyonari recently revealed on his social media why he has not announced any plans for next season.

"I have something to tell you all," Kiyonari began in a statement on social media.

"At this point, it is very difficult to decide on future plans. The reason is that in 2022, I broke my spine and underwent treatment to insert a metal fitting. More than two years have passed since the fitting was inserted, and considering the state of adhesion and the future, it has become necessary to remove the fitting.

"However, by removing the fitting, you will not be able to put strain on your body for a while. At this point, it is difficult to predict how long this period will be. I would like to return as soon as possible, but considering the cases of people who have suffered similar injuries, I understand that it depends largely on how well my body recovers, so my future plans are undecided at this stage.

"I am very sorry that I cannot give you a clear answer," Kiyonari concluded. "But I would like to prioritise treatment and rehabilitation first, and then prepare my body for the next step after getting it in good condition. I look forward to seeing you somewhere soon. Thank you for your continued support."

Kiyonari aims to return to racing in the future but has set no timeline for when he will return.