Ryuichi Kiyonari is the man to beat as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship powers into
Mallory Park for this Sunday's double race third round - the 22-year-old Japanese is unbeaten so far and will take some stopping at the demanding Leicestershire circuit.
That is not lost on his HM Plant Honda team-mate Michael Rutter. He lives adjacent to the circuit and is keen to make local knowledge pay dividends as he plays catch-up in the title stakes.
"For sure Kiyo will take some beating - he is bang on every lap and riding very well,” admitted Rutter who goes into the races in third place in the overall standings. "These races, on my home circuit are very important. I need to start winning races and hoping for better things than last year here - Kiyo is getting a good lead in the points and if I am to take the title, I need to start pegging him back now."
Rutter is not the only rider intent on beating Kiynari whose winning spree began in the final round of last season - he has now taken six straight wins and is enjoying every moment. A key to his success is the high number of laps he puts in during every practice and qualifying session. "Many laps makes perfect, I like Mallory, but need to ride it again, more," he smiles.
The Japanese rider could also land himself a £30,000 Audi TT Quattro car as a bonus if he maintains his current form - that is the end of season Audi Performance Award on offer for consistency throughout every qualifying session and race.
Kiyonari has only come under serious threat in one race so far this season, and that was when Gregorio Lavilla ran him close in the opening round - the Spaniard has deputised for the injured James Haydon in the Airwaves Ducati team in each of the four races so far, taking two seconds and two thirds to be second overall in the standings. It was first thought that Lavilla's job would be done after the
Thruxton round of the championship, as Haydon was expected to return to the team at Mallory.
