Jump to content

Ryuichi Kiyonari

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by BestBruno (talk | contribs) at 12:33, 30 March 2023. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ryuichi Kiyonari
Kiyonari in Buildbase BMW colours acknowledging spectators' plaudits at Brands Hatch Showdown podium, end of BSB season 2014
NationalityJapanese
Born (1982-09-23) September 23, 1982 (age 42)
Saitama, Japan
Current teamHonda/Moriwaki/Althea Team
Bike number23
Motorcycle racing career statistics
British Superbike Championship
Active years2004 - 2008 , 2010-2014
ManufacturersHonda, BMW, Suzuki
Championships3 (2006,2007,2010)
2015 championship position18th (32pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
239 50 97 33 38 1509

Ryuichi Kiyonari (清成龍一) (born September 23, 1982 in Saitama, Japan) is a professional motorcycle road racer.

He previously rode a Honda CBR1000RR in the MFJ All-Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship. He was the 2006, 2007 and 2010 British Superbike champion and enjoys fame and popularity amongst British motorcycle race fans due to his success and personality. He raced for Honda Asia in 2012.[1]

He won the 2008 Suzuka 8-Hour race, teamed with his former WSBK teammate Carlos Checa.

Early years

Kiyonari first raced in 1988 in motocross, which he later stated that he did not especially enjoy. He began circuit racing in 1996, and first raced in the All-Japan 125cc Championship in 1998. He continued in this class until 1999 and spent the 2000 and 2001 season in the All-Japan 250cc Championship, with a shortage of big results, other than 9th place in the 2000 Suzuka 8 Hours race.

In 2002, Kiyonari switched to the All-Japan ST600 championship, which he won with four victories. He also took an All-Japan Superbike Championship victory at TI Aida.

MotoGP

Kiyonari moved to MotoGP in early 2003 on Fausto Gresini's Telefónica Movistar team. There were eight minor points finishes, leaving him 20th overall with a best of 11th.

By season

Season Class Moto Team Race Win Pod Pole FLap Pts Plcd WCh
2003 MotoGP RC211V Telefónica Gresini Honda 13 0 0 0 0 22 20th  –
Total 13 0 0 0 0 0 0

British Superbike Championship

After coming 6th overall in the British Superbike Championship in 2004, Kiyonari won the first four races of 2005, before injuring his ankle in a heavy crash in round 5. He was back for round 9, and retook the championship lead from teammate Michael Rutter, but eventually was overhauled by the improving Ducati of Lavilla and he finished the season runner up. Kiyonari also raced in the Valencia Grand Prix for Sito Pons' Camel Honda team, finishing in the points.

In 2006, A double victory at Silverstone in the penultimate round kept Kiyonari in close contention for the title. However, in the double point final round at Brands Hatch, after a win in race one (he was leading when Shane Byrne's heavy crash caused a stoppage. Kiyonari only needed to finish third in the final race. Kiyonari finished 2nd in the shortened race behind Haslam, thus winning the championship by 8 points.

Kiyonari in 2007

The 2007 season started at Brands Hatch, with Jonathan Rea and Leon Camier performing better on their Hondas. However, Kiyonari took a double win in round three, and a further win in race 2 at Oulton Park, to lie second to Lavilla after four rounds. Finally, Kiyonari defended his British champion at Brands Hatch to win the championship for the second time in succession.

Superbike World Championship

In 2008 Kiyonari made his Superbike World Championship debut, having reached an agreement with Ten Kate Honda, to partner Carlos Checa and Kenan Sofuoğlu.

In the second race at Monza, Kiyonari nearly had his first SBK win. Kiyonari was in front as they braked for the final entry into the Parabolica but went wide on the exit and Noriyuki Haga and Max Neukirchner edged him out - Haga for the win and Neukirchner claiming second by a gap of just .009. Kiyonari finished third with a gap of .051, his first Superbike podium.

Kiyonari's first two wins came at Brands Hatch, beating Troy Bayliss in race 1 and Noriyuki Haga in race 2. He briefly led the very next race at Donington Park, but fell on lap 2. However, he did win the second race in very wet conditions, visibly sliding the rear end of his bike on many occasions. Kiyonari broke his collarbone in a testing crash at Magny Cours, two weeks prior to the event, missing the race.

For 2009, Kiyonari stayed with the Ten Kate Honda team, partnering Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea. His bike was backed by Honda Europe rather than Hannspree. He finished 11th in the championship standings.

Return to British Superbikes

In September 2009, Kiyonari returned to British Superbikes to make a wildcard appearance at Croft Circuit, replacing the injured Glen Richards.[2] He finished fourth in race one before finishing race two in 18th position.

In December 2009, Kiyonari was confirmed as one of HM Plant Honda's riders for the 2010 British Superbike Championship season,[3] partnering Australian rider Josh Brookes. At Cadwell Park he won race one but retired from race two before it began, due to a technical problem on the warm-up lap.[4] He scored a double win at Mallory Park, lifting him to fourth overall in the standings.[5]

2011 saw Kiyonari stay with HM Plant Honda in the British Superbike Championship, alongside two time BSB Champion Shane Byrne. He finished 6th overall.[6]

FIM Asia Road Racing Championship

For the 2012 season, Kiyonari headed to Asia, leading Malaysian team Boon Siew Honda Malaysia Racing as they aspire to lift the FIM Asian SuperSports 600cc trophy. He went on to win the 2012 Asia Road Racing Championship title.

Return again to the British Superbike Championship

In 2013 Kiyonari returned to the BSB, racing with Samsung Honda. He finished 6th overall.

In December 2013, Speed of Japan announced that Kiyonari would be racing with Buildbase BMW in the BSB in 2014. . Kiyonari's move to BMW was his first ever race with a manufacturer other than Honda, followed in 2016 by a switch to Suzuki.

FIM World Endurance Championship Suzuka 8 Hours

Kiyonari has four wins at the Suzuka 8 Hours, in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012. He is the rider with most wins that is currently still active.

Career statistics

1998- 26th, All Japan Road Race GP125 Championship #90 Honda RS125R
1999- 23rd, All Japan Road Race GP125 Championship #26 Honda RS125R
2000- 20th, All Japan Road Race GP250 Championship #111 Honda RS250R
2001- 16th, All Japan Road Race GP250 Championship #100 Honda RS250R
2002- 1st, All Japan Road Race ST600 Championship #54 Honda CBR600RR
2003- 20th, MotoGP #23 Honda RC211V
2004- 6th, British Superbike Championship #23 Honda CBR1000RR
2005- 2nd, British Superbike Championship #6 Honda CBR1000RR
2006- 1st, British Superbike Championship #2 Honda CBR1000RR
2007- 1st, British Superbike Championship #1 Honda CBR1000RR
2008- 9th, Superbike World Championship #23 Honda CBR1000RR
2009- 11th, Superbike World Championship #9 Honda CBR1000RR
2010- 1st, British Superbike Championship #8 Honda CBR1000RR
2011- 6th, British Superbike Championship #1 Honda CBR1000RR
2012- 1st, Asia Road Race SS600 Championship #23 Honda CBR600RR
2013- 6th, British Superbike Championship #23 Honda CBR1000RR
2014- 2nd, British Superbike Championship #23 BMW S1000RR
2015- 20th, British Superbike Championship #23 BMW S1000RR
2016- 20th, British Superbike Championship #23 Suzuki GSX-R1000/BMW S1000RR
2017- 11th, All Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship #88 Honda CBR1000RR
2018- All Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship #23 Honda CBR1000RR

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
2003 Honda SPA AUS JPN
2 		ITA GER GBR SMR GBR NED ITA FRA 21st 20

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

Races by year

(key)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts
2003 MotoGP Honda JPN RSA SPA FRA
13 		ITA
13 		CAT
11 		NED
17 		GBR
14 		GER
18 		CZE
15 		POR
16 		BRA
15 		PAC
11 		MAL
21 		AUS
19 		VAL
14 		20th 22
2005 MotoGP Honda SPA POR CHN FRA ITA CAT NED USA GBR GER CZE JPN MAL QAT AUS TUR VAL
12 		25th 4

Superbike World Championship

Races by year

Year Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos. Pts
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
2008 Honda QAT
22 		QAT
19 		AUS
9 		AUS
6 		SPA
Ret 		SPA
4 		NED
7 		NED
Ret 		ITA
6 		ITA
3 		USA
10 		USA
7 		GER
12 		GER
11 		SMR
14 		SMR
13 		CZE
5 		CZE
6 		GBR
1 		GBR
1 		EUR
Ret 		EUR
1 		ITA
Ret 		ITA
13 		FRA FRA POR
8 		POR
11 		9th 206
2009 Honda AUS
Ret 		AUS
23 		QAT
8 		QAT
4 		SPA
12 		SPA
9 		NED
15 		NED
Ret 		ITA
3 		ITA
3 		RSA
12 		RSA
13 		USA
4 		USA
5 		SMR
Ret 		SMR
14 		GBR
10 		GBR
7 		CZE
13 		CZE
13 		GER
14 		GER
7 		ITA
5 		ITA
17 		FRA
Ret 		FRA
DNS 		POR
DNS 		POR
DNS 		11th 141
2010 Honda AUS AUS POR POR SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA RSA RSA USA USA SMR SMR CZE CZE GBR
21 		GBR
16 		GER GER ITA ITA FRA FRA NC 0

References

  1. ^ "Kiyonari to race for Honda Asia". BSN. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Kiyonari makes BSB return". Insidebikes. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Kiyonari confirmed by HM Plant Honda". Insidebikes. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Brookes ensures HM Plant double". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 23 May 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Kiyonari double lifts him into contention". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  6. ^ "BSB final standings 2011" (PDF). Motorsportvision. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryuichi Kiyonari.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ryuichi_Kiyonari&oldid=1147358123"