Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari powered his way from the fourth row to take the first MCE British Superbike win of the weekend at Oulton Park, ahead of Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes and Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne.
But it is not all bad for Brookes, as he will start on pole for race two tomorrow, but in the end Kiyonari had the pace, after a move at Hizzy's with a handful of laps remaining - and the triple-champ didn’t look back. Byrne's third place finish also means that he is the first rider to secure a Showdown spot.
Initially it was Byrne who got the hole-shot in the 15 lapper from Brookes and Walker. FFX Ian Hutchinson had to retire to the pits on only the first lap, with a technical problem. Linfoot was on the tail of Walker and got the better of him at Brittens on the second rotation.
Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins crept up on the leading foursome of Byrne, Brookes, Linfoot and Bridewell, and started to match their times around the Cheshire track. Walker was in fourth, but slipped back by the final corner on lap four and trailed in eighth, allowing Kiyonari, Hopkins and Hickman to storm on ahead.
The Japanese rider was on a roll and was chasing down the leading four – not bad for a rider who started on the fourth row of the grid, and by lap five he went into fourth after making a move at Lodge on the Devizes Swearbox.
At the Hizzy Chicane WD-40's Barry Burrell went straight on and lost out on five places on lap five, and had to rejoin the race in 15th. A lap later Brookes got the better of Byrne to take the lead for the first time this weekend.
At Old Hall corner Kiyo went into third ahead of Linfoot, and soon had Byrne and Brookes as his next target on lap seven. Brookes was ploughing on but made a mistake at Shell, and Byrne soon caught up with the Milwaukee man.
GBmoto Kawasaki’s Chris Walker took a tumble at Lodge Corner but appeared OK at the circuit, and was able to walk away from the crash relatively unhurt, after a low side, with seven laps remaining. But Walker was not the only rider to crash at Lodge, as minutes later Bathams BMW’s Michael Rutter fell uninjured.
On the final corner on lap 9 Kiyo went into second and was charging down Brookes for the win. At Hizzy’s the triple-champ made a perfect overtaking move on the Aussie and went into the lead for the first time.
On the penultimate lap Brookes was closing in on Kiyo but even though he was eyeing a chance to go into the lead the former championship winner was too strong and confidently crossed the line to take a superb win. Bridewell and Linfoot completed the top five, and the Kawasaki man was able to hold off the attacks from Hopkins who had to settle for sixth, ahead of Hickman, Waters, Easton and Mainwaring, to round up the top ten.
Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s substitute rider’s Glen Richards and Scott Smart had a respectable first race out on their new machines. Richards finished just outside the points in 16th, with Smart crossing the line in 19th.
