Ryuichi Kiyonari

Japanese motorcycle racer

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (December 2018)

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Ryuichi Kiyonari

Kiyonari in Buildbase BMW colours acknowledging spectators' plaudits at Brands Hatch Showdown podium, end of BSB season 2014

Nationality| Japanese
Born|  (1982-09-23) September 23, 1982 (age 42)
Saitama, Japan
Current team| Honda/Moriwaki/Althea Team
Bike number| 23
| Motorcycle racing career statistics

British Superbike Championship
Active years| 2004 - 2008, 2010-2014
Manufacturers| Honda, BMW, Suzuki
Championships| 3 (2006,2007,2010)
2015 championship position| 20th (66pts)
| Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | F. laps | Points

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239 | 50 | 94 | 25 | 38 | 4005

Ryuichi Kiyonari (清成龍一) (born September 23, 1982 in Saitama, Japan) is a professional motorcycle road racer.

He previously rode a Honda CBR1000RR in the MFJ All-Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship. He was the 2006, 2007 and 2010 British Superbike champion and enjoys fame and popularity amongst British motorcycle race fans due to his success and personality. He raced for Honda Asia in 2012.[1]

He won the 2008 Suzuka 8-Hour race, teamed with his former WSBK teammate Carlos Checa.

## Early years

[edit]

Kiyonari first raced in 1988 in motocross, which he later stated that he did not especially enjoy. He began circuit racing in 1996, and first raced in the All-Japan 125cc Championship in 1998. He continued in this class until 1999 and spent the 2000 and 2001 season in the All-Japan 250cc Championship, with a shortage of big results, other than 9th place in the 2000 Suzuka 8 Hours race.

In 2002, Kiyonari switched to the All-Japan ST600 championship, which he won with four victories. He also took an All-Japan Superbike Championship victory at TI Aida.

## MotoGP

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Throughout 2002 and 2003, Kiyonari was employed by the Honda Racing Corporation as their official test rider. Main rider Daijiro Kato was killed in the 2003 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix, meaning Gresini Racing would need a second rider. Kiyonari received a telephone call from team principal Fausto Gresini to move to MotoGP started from 2003 French motorcycle Grand Prix until the remainder of the season. There were eight minor points finishes, leaving him 20th overall with a best of 11th.

### By season

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Season  | Class  | Moto  | Team  | Race  | Win  | Pod  | Pole | FLap  | Pts  | Plcd  | WCh

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2003 | MotoGP  | RC211V | Telefónica Gresini Honda | 13  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 22  | 20th  |  –
Total  |  |  |  | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 0

## British Superbike Championship

[edit]

After coming 6th overall in the British Superbike Championship in 2004, Kiyonari won the first four races of 2005, before injuring his ankle in a heavy crash in round 5. He was back for round 9, and retook the championship lead from teammate Michael Rutter, but eventually was overhauled by the improving Ducati of Lavilla and he finished the season runner up. Kiyonari also raced in the Valencia Grand Prix for Sito Pons' Camel Honda team, finishing in the points.

In 2006, A double victory at Silverstone in the penultimate round kept Kiyonari in close contention for the title. However, in the double point final round at Brands Hatch, after a win in race one (he was leading when Shane Byrne's heavy crash caused a stoppage. Kiyonari only needed to finish third in the final race. Kiyonari finished 2nd in the shortened race behind Haslam, thus winning the championship by 8 points.

Kiyonari in 2007

The 2007 season started at Brands Hatch, with Jonathan Rea and Leon Camier performing better on their Hondas. However, Kiyonari took a double win in round three, and a further win in race 2 at Oulton Park, to lie second to Lavilla after four rounds. Finally, Kiyonari defended his British champion at Brands Hatch to win the championship for the second time in succession.

## Superbike World Championship

[edit]

In 2008 Kiyonari made his Superbike World Championship debut, having reached an agreement with Ten Kate Honda, to partner Carlos Checa and Kenan Sofuoğlu.

In the second race at Monza, Kiyonari nearly had his first SBK win. Kiyonari was in front as they braked for the final entry into the Parabolica but went wide on the exit and Noriyuki Haga and Max Neukirchner edged him out - Haga for the win and Neukirchner claiming second by a gap of just .009. Kiyonari finished third with a gap of .051, his first Superbike podium.

Kiyonari's first two wins came at Brands Hatch, beating Troy Bayliss in race 1 and Noriyuki Haga in race 2. He briefly led the very next race at Donington Park, but fell on lap 2. However, he did win the second race in very wet conditions, visibly sliding the rear end of his bike on many occasions. Kiyonari broke his collarbone in a testing crash at Magny Cours, two weeks prior to the event, missing the race.

For 2009, Kiyonari stayed with the Ten Kate Honda team, partnering Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea. His bike was backed by Honda Europe rather than Hannspree. He finished 11th in the championship standings.

## Return to British Superbikes

[edit]

In September 2009, Kiyonari returned to British Superbikes to make a wildcard appearance at Croft Circuit, replacing the injured Glen Richards.[2] He finished fourth in race one before finishing race two in 18th position.

In December 2009, Kiyonari was confirmed as one of HM Plant Honda's riders for the 2010 British Superbike Championship season,[3] partnering Australian rider Josh Brookes. At Cadwell Park he won race one but retired from race two before it began, due to a technical problem on the warm-up lap.[4] He scored a double win at Mallory Park, lifting him to fourth overall in the standings.[5]

2011 saw Kiyonari stay with HM Plant Honda in the British Superbike Championship, alongside two time BSB Champion Shane Byrne. He finished 6th overall.[6]

## FIM Asia Road Racing Championship

[edit]

For the 2012 season, Kiyonari headed to Asia, leading Malaysian team Boon Siew Honda Malaysia Racing as they aspire to lift the FIM Asian SuperSports 600cc trophy. He went on to win the 2012 Asia Road Racing Championship title.

## Return again to the British Superbike Championship

[edit]

In 2013 Kiyonari returned to the BSB, racing with Samsung Honda. He finished 6th overall.

In December 2013, Speed of Japan announced that Kiyonari would be racing with Buildbase BMW in the BSB in 2014. . Kiyonari's move to BMW was his first ever race with a manufacturer other than Honda, followed in 2016 by a switch to Suzuki.

## FIM World Endurance Championship Suzuka 8 Hours

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Kiyonari has four wins at the Suzuka 8 Hours, in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012. He is the rider with most wins that is currently still active.

## Career statistics

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1998- 26th, All Japan Road Race GP125 Championship #90 Honda RS125R
1999- 23rd, All Japan Road Race GP125 Championship #26 Honda RS125R
2000- 20th, All Japan Road Race GP250 Championship #111 Honda RS250R
2001- 16th, All Japan Road Race GP250 Championship #100 Honda RS250R
2002- 1st, All Japan Road Race ST600 Championship #54 Honda CBR600RR
2003- 20th, MotoGP #23 Honda RC211V
2004- 6th, British Superbike Championship #23 Honda CBR1000RR
2005- 2nd, British Superbike Championship #6 Honda CBR1000RR
2006- 1st, British Superbike Championship #2 Honda CBR1000RR
2007- 1st, British Superbike Championship #1 Honda CBR1000RR
2008- 9th, Superbike World Championship #23 Honda CBR1000RR
2009- 11th, Superbike World Championship #9 Honda CBR1000RR
2010- 1st, British Superbike Championship #8 Honda CBR1000RR
2011- 6th, British Superbike Championship #1 Honda CBR1000RR
2012- 1st, Asia Road Race SS600 Championship #23 Honda CBR600RR
2013- 6th, British Superbike Championship #23 Honda CBR1000RR
2014- 2nd, British Superbike Championship #23 BMW S1000RR
2015- 20th, British Superbike Championship #23 BMW S1000RR
2016- 20th, British Superbike Championship #23 Suzuki GSX-R1000/BMW S1000RR
2017- 11th, All Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship #88 Honda CBR1000RR
2018- All Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship #23 Honda CBR1000RR

### Supersport World Championship

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#### Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Team  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | Pos. | Pts

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2003 | Honda | SPA | AUS | JPN
2 | ITA | GER | GBR | SMR | GBR | NED | ITA | FRA | 21st  | 20

### Grand Prix motorcycle racing

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#### Races by year

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(key)

Year  | Class  | Bike  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | Pos. | Pts

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2003 | MotoGP  | Honda | JPN | RSA | SPA | FRA
13 | ITA
13 | CAT
11 | NED
17 | GBR
14 | GER
18 | CZE
15 | POR
16 | BRA
15 | PAC
11 | MAL
21 | AUS
19 | VAL
14 |  | 20th  | 22
2005 | MotoGP  | Honda | SPA | POR | CHN | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | USA | GBR | GER | CZE | JPN | MAL | QAT | AUS | TUR | VAL
12 | 25th  | 4

### Suzuka 8 Hours results

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Year  | Team  | Co-Rider  | Bike  | Pos

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2005  |  Seven Stars Racing |  Ryuichi Kiyonari
Tohru Ukawa | Honda CBR1000RR | 1st
2008  |  Dream [ja] Honda Racing |  Ryuchi Kiyonari
Carlos Checa | Honda CBR1000RR | 1st
2010  |  MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO  |  Takaaki Nakagami
Takumi Takahashi | CBR1000RRW | 1st
2011  |  F.C.C. [ja]-TSR Honda  |  Ryuichi Kiyonari
Kousuke Akiyoshi
Shinichi Ito | CBR1000RRW | 1st

### Superbike World Championship

[edit]

#### Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Make  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | Pos. | Pts

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R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2
2008 | Honda | QAT
22 | QAT
19 | AUS
9 | AUS
6 | SPA
Ret | SPA
4 | NED
7 | NED
Ret | ITA
6 | ITA
3 | USA
10 | USA
7 | GER
12 | GER
11 | SMR
14 | SMR
13 | CZE
5 | CZE
6 | GBR
1 | GBR
1 | EUR
Ret | EUR
1 | ITA
Ret | ITA
13 | FRA | FRA | POR
8 | POR
11 | 9th  | 206
2009 | Honda | AUS
Ret | AUS
23 | QAT
8 | QAT
4 | SPA
12 | SPA
9 | NED
15 | NED
Ret | ITA
3 | ITA
3 | RSA
12 | RSA
13 | USA
4 | USA
5 | SMR
Ret | SMR
14 | GBR
10 | GBR
7 | CZE
13 | CZE
13 | GER
14 | GER
7 | ITA
5 | ITA
17 | FRA
Ret | FRA
DNS | POR
DNS | POR
DNS | 11th  | 141
2010 | Honda | AUS | AUS | POR | POR | SPA | SPA | NED | NED | ITA | ITA | RSA | RSA | USA | USA | SMR | SMR | CZE | CZE | GBR
21 | GBR
16 | GER | GER | ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA |  |  | NC  | 0

### British Superbike Championship

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Bike  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | Pos  | Pts

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R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2
2004 | Honda | SIL
2 | SIL
2 | BHI
6 | BHI
6 | SNE
7 | SNE
9 | OUL
WD | OUL
WD | MON
| MON
| THR
13 | THR
8 | BHGP
18 | BHGP
20 | KNO
10 | KNO
14 | MAL
4 | MAL
3 | CRO
4 | CRO
4 | CAD
2 | CAD
16 | OUL
12 | OUL
6 | DON
1 | DON
1 | 6th  | 234
2005 | Honda | BHI
1 | BHI
1 | THR
1 | THR
1 | MAL
Ret | MAL
DNS | OUL
| OUL
| MOP
1 | MOP
3 | CRO
1 | CRO
3 | KNO
1 | KNO
1 | SNE
1 | SNE
Ret | SIL
8 | SIL
1 | CAD
5 | CAD
3 | OUL
1 | OUL
1 | DON
2 | DON
3 | BHGP
4 | BHGP
4 | 2nd  | 429
Year  | Make  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | Pos  | Pts

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R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3
2006 | Honda | BHI
4 | BHI
1 |  | DON
2 | DON
Ret |  | THR
3 | THR
4 |  | OUL
6 | OUL
5 |  | MOP
C | MOP
C |  | MAL
1 | MAL
3 |  | SNE
1 | SNE
1 |  | KNO
1 | KNO
Ret |  | OUL
1 | OUL
1 |  | CRO
1 | CRO
5 |  | CAD
3 | CAD
Ret |  | SIL
1 | SIL
1 |  | BHGP
1 | BHGP
2 |  | 1st | 466
2007 | Honda | BHGP
8 | BHGP
11 |  | THR
3 | THR
2 |  | SIL
1 | SIL
1 |  | OUL
3 | OUL
1 |  | SNE
1 | SNE
1 |  | MON
5 | MON
5 |  | KNO
2 | KNO
3 |  | OUL
1 | OUL
Ret |  | MAL
Ret | MAL
1 |  | CRO
1 | CRO
1 |  | CAD
2 | CAD
2 |  | DON
Ret | DON
3 |  | BHI
3 | BHI
4 |  | 1st  | 433
2009 | Honda | BHI
| BHI
|  | OUL
| OUL
|  | DON
| DON
|  | THR
| THR
|  | SNE
| SNE
|  | KNO
| KNO
|  | MAL
| MAL
|  | BHGP
| BHGP
| BHGP
| CAD
| CAD
|  | CRO
4 | CRO
18 |  | SIL
| SIL
|  | OUL
| OUL
| OUL
|  |  |  | 29th | 13
2010 | Honda | BHI
2 | BHI
Ret |  | THR
9 | THR
4 |  | OUL
Ret | OUL
4 |  | CAD
1 | CAD
DNS |  | MAL
1 | MAL
1 |  | KNO
2 | KNO
C |  | SNE
2 | SNE
Ret | SNE
1 | BHGP
3 | BHGP
2 | BHGP
2 | CAD
3 | CAD
3 |  | CRO
11 | CRO
4 |  | SIL
5 | SIL
2 |  | OUL
1 | OUL
1 | OUL
1 |  |  |  | 1st  | 649
2011 | Honda | BHI
Ret | BHI
2 |  | OUL
1 | OUL
4 |  | CRO
25 | CRO
15 |  | THR
10 | THR
19 |  | KNO
10 | KNO
4 |  | SNE
5 | SNE
1 |  | OUL
15 | OUL
C |  | BHGP
17 | BHGP
12 | BHGP
6 | CAD
5 | CAD
9 | CAD
7 | DON
Ret | DON
6 |  | SIL
28 | SIL
13 |  | BHGP
17 | BHGP
16 | BHGP
11 |  |  |  | 6th  | 526
2013 | Honda | BHI
8 | BHI
4 |  | THR
17 | THR
Ret |  | OUL
14 | OUL
12 |  | KNO
3 | KNO
3 |  | SNE
5 | SNE
4 |  | BHGP
3 | BHGP
5 |  | OUL
6 | OUL
3 | OUL
10 | CAD
7 | CAD
5 |  | DON
13 | DON
11 |  | ASS
14 | ASS
3 |  | SIL
| SIL
|  | BHGP
| BHGP
| BHGP
|  |  |  | 6th | 522
2014 | BMW | BHI
16 | BHI
4 |  | OUL
Ret | OUL
Ret |  | SNE
5 | SNE
4 |  | KNO
1 | KNO
2 |  | BHGP
1 | BHGP
Ret |  | THR
3 | THR
3 |  | OUL
1 | OUL
1 | OUL
4 | CAD
Ret | CAD
Ret |  | DON
1 | DON
1 |  | ASS
2 | ASS
2 |  | SIL
2 | SIL
1 |  | BHGP
WD | BHGP
WD | BHGP
WD |  |  |  | 2nd | 620
Year  | Make  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | Pos  | Pts

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R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R3  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R1  | R2  | R3
2015 | BMW | DON
14 | DON
Ret | BHI
4 | BHI
4 | OUL
5 | OUL
Ret |  | SNE
21 | SNE
Ret | KNO
Ret | KNO
4 | BHGP
16 | BHGP
18 |  | THR
17 | THR
17 | CAD
14 | CAD
Ret |  | OUL
15 | OUL
12 | OUL
9 | ASS
| ASS
| SIL
Ret | SIL
16 | BHGP
| BHGP
| BHGP
| 20th | 66
2016 | Suzuki & BMW | SIL
11 | SIL
12 | OUL
Ret | OUL
DNS | BHI
DNS | BHI
Ret |  | KNO
19 | KNO
Ret | SNE
20 | SNE
7 | THR
11 | THR
19 |  | BHGP
22 | BHGP
| CAD
| CAD
|  | OUL
16 | OUL
10 | OUL
15 | DON
DNS | DON
DNS | ASS
18 | ASS
18 | BHGP
14 | BHGP
15 | BHGP
7 | 20th  | 42
2018 | Honda | DON
| DON
| BHI
| BHI
| OUL
12 | OUL
15 |  | SNE
| SNE
| KNO
| KNO
| BHGP
| BHGP
|  | THR
| THR
| CAD
| CAD
|  | SIL
| SIL
| SIL
| OUL
| OUL
| ASS
| ASS
| BHGP
| BHGP
| BHGP
| 29th  | 5

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kiyonari to race for Honda Asia". BSN. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
2. ^ "Kiyonari makes BSB return". Insidebikes. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
3. ^ "Kiyonari confirmed by HM Plant Honda". Insidebikes. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
4. ^ "Brookes ensures HM Plant double". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 23 May 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
5. ^ "Kiyonari double lifts him into contention". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
6. ^ "BSB final standings 2011" (PDF). Motorsportvision. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2011.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryuichi Kiyonari.

* Ryuichi Kiyonari at MotoGP.com
* Ryuichi Kiyonari at WorldSBK.com
* sportnetwork.net Rider profile
* Speed of Japan Kiyonari's management agency