Lavilla: Remember what happened to Kiyonari...

Reigning Bennetts British Superbike champion Gregorio Lavilla may have won four of the first six races of 2006 - and hold a comfortable 36-point lead - but is taking nothing for granted after overturning a similarly dominant start by Ryuichi Kiyonari last season.

gregorio lavilla and leon haslam podium race 1 thruxton monday 17/04/06
gregorio lavilla and leon haslam podium race 1 thruxton monday 17/04/06
© Paul Sturman

Reigning Bennetts British Superbike champion Gregorio Lavilla may have won four of the first six races of 2006 - and hold a comfortable 36-point lead - but is taking nothing for granted after overturning a similarly dominant start by Ryuichi Kiyonari last season.

HM Plant Honda rider Kiyonari won the first four races of the 2005 championship - handing the Japanese a 28-point advantage over nearest rival Lavilla heading to round three at Mallory Park... but a heavy race one accident left Kiyonari on the sidelines for both race two and the following round at Oulton Park. Kiyonari finished the year with the most race wins, but the title went to Lavilla.

Bank Holiday Monday's third round of the 2006 series, at Thruxton, was to prove much more favourable for the current championship leader - with Lavilla blasting to two safe victories over Airwaves Ducati team-mate Leon Haslam - but after what happened to Kiyonari, the Spaniard is refusing to consider the championship.

"I am not thinking of the title - remember last season Ryuichi Kiyonari won the first four races but not the title," he said.

Nevertheless, Lavilla is riding with an assured style and speed: He broke the lap record in race one, and then bettered it - with an average speed of 113.25mph - to win the second race by a little over six seconds.

"It has been a good weekend, now we have to keep the momentum going as I know points can be lost and my lead can be reduced so we have to keep concentrating and working hard," declared Gregorio.

Meanwhile, two second places for Haslam means that the Briton has now taken second in the early championship standings from Kiyonari - but being twice overtaken by Lavilla was a frustrating experience.

"It's hard making the start, and then seeing him come past, but in fairness, he has not put a foot wrong, and I am struggling a bit still with my ankle injury," said Leon.

Kiyonari took third place race one at Thruxton and looked set for an action replay next time out, but his HM Plant Honda team-mate Karl Harris snatched the position from him at the chicane on the final lap. Ryuichi now sits 9-points behind Haslam in the championship standings.

Read More