Ryuichi Kiyonari took the victory in the opening race at Mallory Park, but defending Bennetts British Superbike Champion and series leader Gregorio Lavilla took the honours next time out at the Leicestershire circuit.

The 23 year old Japanese rider was ahead of the pack from the start of the first 28 lapper in which Glen Richards tumbled on the straight and then three riders Steve Plater, Tommy Hill and Olly Bridewell went down at the new chicane, bringing the Audi Safety Car out for a couple of laps.

Jonathan Rea was tucked in behind Kiyonari with local favourite Michael Rutter running third on the Stobart Honda, just ahead of Rizla Suzuki’s former champion Shane Byrne and Leon Haslam who was soon on the charge.

He had moved his Airwaves Ducati through into third place at quarter distance, but ahead of him, Kiyonari was dictating terms on the HM Plant Honda, with Rea riding hard on the Red Bull Honda to stay with him.

But, disaster struck for the young Ulsterman with six laps remaining as he tipped off powering out of the ‘bus-stop’ leaving Haslam in a vain pursuit of Kiyonari who was enjoying his first success since the opening round at Brands Hatch back in March.

Lavilla came in third, and far from please. “I am not happy. I was not able to fight for the victory. I was struggling with traction and had to try and ride through the problem.”

The Airwaves team worked on the problem between races, making minor changes, ad the Spaniard rewarded their efforts with a determined, stylish winning ride, but first he had to reel in Kiyonari who had set the pace from the start. Lavilla was running close and it was no surprise when he eased through, with a smooth move, at the chicane to take over at the front.

“I rode well and had a good rhythm – my bike was perfect. I must thank my mechanics for the changes they made. The biggest problem I had was keeping Leon behind me.

“This is my worst track, but I have enjoyed a pole start, and then taken a third and a victory so I am now very happy,” smiled Lavilla as he enjoyed the seventh victory of the season, which puts him 223-161 ahead of Haslam, with Kiyonari, third in that race, on 149 points.

Adrift of the leading trio, former champion Shane Byrne took fourth and fifth placings aboard the Rizla Suzuki, with Rutter, who had been hoping for a change of fortune at his local circuit having to settle for a pair of sixth placings.

Chris Martin, with a win and a second place aboard the PR Branson Honda, moved ahead in the chase for the British Superbike Cup title as the defending champion James Buckingham found himself sidelined in the opening race by a holed radiator. The Devonian hit back strong, winning next time out aboard the Quay Garage Suzuki, but he is 182-166 down on the York rider. Marty Nutt, riding Suzuki here, took a pair of thirds to stay in contention.

Suzuki Report

RIZLA SUZUKI’S Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne rode hard to record fourth and fifth place finishes at the sixth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park in Leicestershire today.

In bright sunshine and warm temperatures, Shakey put on a controlled display of aggressive riding in both races at what he openly regards as his ‘bogey’ track. The first race was won by Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari and the second race by Ducati’s Gregorio Lavilla. Shakey is now firmly established in fifth place in the title chase, just five points behind Honda’s Karl Harris.

Rizla Suzuki’s James Haydon did not race today following painful injuries to his left shoulder, forearm and fingers sustained in a high-speed crash at the first corner in Friday afternoon’s practice session. He will undergo intensive physiotherapy in his bid to be race ready for the seventh round of the Championship at Snetterton in Norfolk on June 18th.

Shakey:
“I couldn’t have ridden any harder this weekend. I gave it my best shot and was maxxed out in both races but couldn’t find the extra tenth of a second per lap to run with the leaders and fight for the podium.

“I lost the tow of the leaders early in both races which was frustrating because towards the end I was running the same pace as them. We have a few ideas on how to improve the bike so I can get away with them and then we can really compete for the wins.

“It’s been a tough day at the office but it’s onwards and upwards from here and I’m glad to see the back of Mallory Park as it isn’t my best circuit. I’ve decided it’s podiums for me from now on in…”

Robert Wicks, Team Manager:
“It has been a challenging weekend for the team. James’s crash on Friday afternoon ruled him out of the action and while that was disappointing, it was the correct decision for him to sit this round out. We will be giving him our full support as he returns to fitness and hope he will be fit to compete at the next round at Snetterton in two weeks time.

“We have been struggling for rear grip throughout the weekend. The team worked hard to set the bike up to overcome this for the races and obviously Shakey would have preferred to be fighting for podiums but was just a fraction off the pace.

“In the opening race, fourth place was as good as Shakey could have got and he nearly matched that in the second race but a back-marker got in the way at the final chicane and he ended up in fifth.

“Rizla Suzuki has received excellent technical feedback from Shakey this weekend and that will help to improve the competitiveness of the Rizla Suzuki for the next round. We expect Shakey to be back fighting for podiums for the rest of the season.”