Ryuichi Kiyonari - Photo Credit: Honda Racing
Ryuichi Kiyonari's championship defence, and his HM Plant Honda career, ended with a whimper as he failed to make the top ten all weekend at Brands Hatch. The Japanese star won each of his three British Superbike titles with the Lincolnshire squad but couldn't rekindle that magic this weekend, with 11th in race one the best he could manage.
Kiyonari was sad not to have ended the season on a high but thanked the team for their efforts throughout his glorious career with them.
“It has been another difficult weekend for me and I am disappointed that I couldn't have a better result to end the season. We have worked hard and I need to thank the HM Plant Honda team for their support to try and help me improve over this year.”
Team Manager Havier Beltran admits that this year hasn't been Kiyonari's finest but thanked the 29 year old for providing the team with some of its' greatest moments.
“It has been a difficult season for Kiyo; with him the HM Plant Honda team has won three BSB titles and scored 43 race wins which makes him the most successful rider in BSB history. We want to thank Kiyo for the successes we have celebrated together over the years. He will always be part of the Honda family and we wish him all the best for the future, in whatever he decides to do, as he will not be returning to the HM Plant Honda team in 2012.”
