30 Facts About Ryuichi Kiyonari

Ryuichi Kiyonari previously rode a Honda CBR1000RR in the MFJ All-Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship.

Ryuichi Kiyonari 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.

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

Ryuichi Kiyonari began circuit racing in 1996, and first raced in the All-Japan 125cc Championship in 1998.

Ryuichi Kiyonari 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, Ryuichi Kiyonari switched to the All-Japan ST600 championship, which he won with four victories.

Ryuichi Kiyonari took an All-Japan Superbike Championship victory at TI Aida.

Ryuichi 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.

Ryuichi Kiyonari 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.

Ryuichi Kiyonari raced in the Valencia Grand Prix for Sito Pons' Camel Honda team, finishing in the points.

Ryuichi Kiyonari only needed to finish third in the final race.

Ryuichi Kiyonari finished 2nd in the shortened race behind Haslam, thus winning the championship by 8 points.

However, Ryuichi 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, Ryuichi Kiyonari defended his British champion at Brands Hatch to win the championship for the second time in succession.

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

Ryuichi 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.

Ryuichi Kiyonari briefly led the very next race at Donington Park, but fell on lap 2.

Ryuichi Kiyonari broke his collarbone in a testing crash at Magny Cours, two weeks prior to the event, missing the race.

For 2009, Ryuichi Kiyonari stayed with the Ten Kate Honda team, partnering Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea.

Ryuichi Kiyonari's bike was backed by Honda Europe rather than Hannspree.

In September 2009, Ryuichi Kiyonari returned to British Superbikes to make a wildcard appearance at Croft Circuit, replacing the injured Glen Richards.

Ryuichi Kiyonari finished fourth in race one before finishing race two in 18th position.

In December 2009, Ryuichi Kiyonari was confirmed as one of HM Plant Honda's riders for the 2010 British Superbike Championship season, partnering Australian rider Josh Brookes.

Ryuichi Kiyonari scored a double win at Mallory Park, lifting him to fourth overall in the standings.

Ryuichi Kiyonari went on to win the 2012 Asia Road Racing Championship title.

In 2013 Ryuichi Kiyonari returned to the BSB, racing with Samsung Honda.

In December 2013, Speed of Japan announced that Ryuichi Kiyonari would be racing with Buildbase BMW in the BSB in 2014.

Ryuichi Kiyonari's move to BMW was his first ever race with a manufacturer other than Honda, followed in 2016 by a switch to Suzuki.

Ryuichi Kiyonari has four wins at the Suzuka 8 Hours, in 2005,2008,2010,2012.

Ryuichi Kiyonari is the rider with most wins that is currently still active.