SOLID POINTS FOR KIYONARI AND BUILDBASE BMW AT BRANDS HATCH

5It was a strong weekend for Buildbase BMW Motorrad in the second round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, with Ryuichi Kiyonari taking two strong fourth places at the 1.2 mile circuit.Kiyonari made a strong start in the first of the day’s two races, settling into a strong second place with a comfortable gap to the rider behind. However, a safety car period towards the end of the race bunched the field together. Struggling with grip in the remaining laps, Kiyonari lost out on two positions to cross the line fourth.In the second race, a good start saw the Japanese-rider in the mix again but a mistake when going for the overtake on Shane Byrne into Druids pushed him back to fourth. Unable to regain the lost ground, he was forced to settle for position, crossing the line to bring home 13 points.Lee Jackson’s tough weekend continued on race day. A development in warm-up saw the Lincolnshire teenager feeling much more comfortable but it was always going to be a challenge fighting through from the eleventh row of the grid. He finished 18th and 23rd in the two races respectively.The Buildbase BMW Motorrad Team will be back in action in two weeks’ time in the third round of the championship at Oulton Park.Ryuichi Kiyonari: “It was important to finish the races today. In race one I was in second but I made a mistake on the last lap and dropped to fourth. I also made a mistake in race two and was fourth again. I’m disappointed with this result, we have all worked very hard this weekend and I finished fourth. That was the first time this year I’ve raced with the others at the front so I’ve now seen what we need to do to improve. I had a few problems with my tyres, after ten laps I felt like I couldn’t push. I got some good points, I’m now joint sixth in the championship and we know what we need to improve.”Lee Jackson: “I’ve not had a weekend as tough as this in a long time so I’ve been really hard on myself. It’s frustrating. We turned it around for warm-up and the bike was working well in the races. I made a small mistake on Friday crashing out and that hasn’t helped. I left a lot of work for myself to do and I’m disappointed I couldn’t be in the points for the team. It’s one of those rounds where you have to put it behind you and move on.”Steve Hicken, Team Manager: “It was a good weekend for Kiyo. Race one was frustrating as we had a strong second place which was then lost after the safety car bunched everything up in the closing stages, but these things happen. After Donington it was really important for Kiyo to finish both races and that’s what he did, he’s now sixth in the championship and the way I see it, our season starts from here. It was always going to be difficult for Lee starting so far back but I think he did a good job, he’s still learning and it’s hard around here with everyone so close.”Race 1 1. James Ellison – JG Speedfit Kawasaki 2. Shane Byrne – PBM Kawasaki 3. Josh Brookes – Milwaukee Yamaha 4. Ryuichi Kiyonari – Buildbase BMW 5. Jason O’Halloran – Honda Racing 6. Stuart Easton – PBM Kawasaki 7. Howie Mainwaring – Quattro Plant Kawasaki 8. Broc Parkes – Milwaukee Yamaha 9. Billy McConnell – Smiths Triumph 10. Chris Walker – Be Wiser Kawasaki 18. Lee Jackson – Buildbase BMW Race 2 1. James Ellison – JG Speedfit Kawasaki 2. Shane Byrne – PBM Kawasaki 3. Josh Brookes – Milwaukee Yamaha 4. Ryuichi Kiyonari – Buildbase BMW 5. Stuart Easton – PBM Kawasaki 6. Tommy Bridewell – Tyco BMW 7. Howie Mainwaring – Quattro Plant Kawasaki 8. Danny Buchan – Be Wiser Kawasaki 9. Billy McConnell – Smiths Triumph 10. Jason O’Halloran – Honda Racing 23. Lee Jackson – Buildbase BMW 3124