Ryuichi Kiyonari the man to beat in British Superbikes at Mondello Park

Ryuichi Kiyonari set the pace on his HM Plant Honda in a miserable wet practice day at Mondello Park in readiness for Sunday’s sixth British Superbike round of the season.

Defending British Ssxuperbike champion Kiyonari was over a half a second quicker that second palced Karl Harris in the morning session held in persistent heavy drizzle and even as conditions improved slightly in the afternoon, he was still over half a second quicker than nearest rival Shane Byrne on the Stobart Honda.

Kiyo’s HM Plant team-mate Jonathan Rea was third quickest in both sessions, after getting used to the factory HRC Honda after winning the Suzuka 300kms with Kiyo last weekend with the more superstock-spec endurance bike.
Leon Haslam was fourth overall, trying to tame the Ariwaves Ducati from backing into corners so hard while team-mate Gregorio Lavilla was fifth quickest, despite tucking the front at Lola.

Chris Walker also crashed without injury and wound up 11th. Cal Crutchlow was seventh on the other Rizla Suzuki.

Leon Camier, Tommy Hill and Tommy Bridewell all crashed in the morning practice but all eascapre without injury. Bridwell also went down in the afternoon session.
Stuart Easton, riding the MSS Discovery Kawasaki  to replace injured Michael Rutter, was 20th overall.

British Superbikes Mondello Park free practice two results:

1 Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Honda 1:48.336
2 Shane Byrne GBR Honda 1:49.011
3 Jonathan Rea GBR Honda 1:49.490
4 Leon Haslam GBR Ducati 1:49.863
5 Gregorio Lavilla ESP Ducati 1:50.011
6 Karl Harris GBR Honda 1:50.025
7 Cal Crutchlow GBR Suzuki 1:50.244
8 Leon Camier GBR Honda 1:50.887
9 Tommy Hill GBR Yamaha 1:51.675
10 Tom Sykes GBR Honda 1:52.049
11 Chris Walker GBR Suzuki 1:52.406
12 Ollie Bridewell GBR Suzuki 1:53.159
13 Dean Thomas AUS Suzuki 1:53.258
14 Brian McCormack GBR Honda 1:53.905
15 Scott Smart GBR Kawasaki 1:54.236
16 Tristan Palmer GBR Honda 1:54.442
17 Steve Plater GBR Yamaha 1:54.750
18 Chris Martin GBR Honda 1:55.351
19 Hudson Kennaugh GBR Yamaha 1:55.734
20 Stuart Easton GBR Kawasaki 1:56.045
21 Tommy Bridewell GBR Suzuki 1:56.609
22 Peter Hickman GBR Kawasaki 1:56.857
23 Paul Barron IRL Yamaha 1:57.145
24 Aaron Zanotti GBR Yamaha 1:58.048
25 Marty Nutt GBR Yamaha 1:58.124
26 Malcolm Ashley GBR Kawasaki 1:58.839
27 Neil Faulkner GBR Yamaha 1:59.400
28 Tom Tunstall GBR Honda 2:00.151
29 James Buckingham GBR Honda 2:050.24