Donington BSB: Kiyo takes the double to set up Showdown

Ryuichi Kiyonari celebrated his second double win of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, holding off a hard-charging Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne in the second race at Donington Park, as the Title Fighters now prepare for the Showdown opener at Assen.

Kiyonari was pushing from the start and he hit the front of the pack after the triple champions clipped into Redgate for the first time. Byrne dropped to third as his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team-mate moved second with Josh Brookes holding fourth.

Byrne was soon attacking Easton and on the second lap he moved ahead and was then hunting down Kiyonari for the lead. The Buildbase BMW rider was pushing to keep his rival behind him and despite Byrne continuing his attack throughout the race, the Japanese rider held the advantage.

The race winner again would be decided on the final lap but a mistake from Byrne saw his chance of making a final move disappear, however the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider leaves Donington Park with a 26 point lead ahead of the Showdown.

Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell had his hopes of a double podium finish vanish when he crashed out unhurt at the Old Hairpin on the seventh lap as his team-mate Brookes fought through from a second tow start to claim third place.

Easton held fourth place ahead of Josh Waters on the Tyco Suzuki who moved up the order in the closing stages to hold off Honda Racing’s Julien Da Costa. Peter Hickman on the RAF Reserves Honda was back in the top ten with seventh place ahead of James Westmoreland on the second of the Buildbase BMWs.

John Hopkins scored a top ten finish in ninth after his seventh row start whilst Title Fighter Chris Walker worked his way through to a top ten finish for the Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki ahead of the returning James Ellison.