BSB: Kiyonari to return to action at Knockhill

Ryuichi Kiyonari will return to action for the Bennetts Suzuki team as the fourth round of the 2016 MCE British Superbike championship gets underway at Knockhill this weekend.

The three-time champion broke his left collarbone in a heavy fall in practice last time out at Brands Hatch, ruling him out for the remainder of that weekend.

After a month’s recuperation at home in Japan, Kiyonari returned to the UK ahead of the Knockhill round and while he admits he’s not 100%, he’s says he’s fit enough to ride. However, that won’t be his decision. He will undergo a medical assessment before tomorrow’s first free practice where series’ doctors will make a call on whether he’s OK to race.  

“My collarbone is feeling strong. It’s not 100%, but I feel comfortable. In Japan I was in a hyperbaric chamber every day and also had laser treatment to speed up my recovery”, Kiyonari said.  “I feel strong enough and fit enough to ride. I have been training so everything should be okay. At Brands, before my crash, my feeling on the bike was very good. Even though I missed the Snetterton test I have great confidence in the team and the bike, and if my feeling is the same at Knockhill, then I think we can be near the front.”