Source: BSB.

Ryuichi Kiyonari celebrated a double victory ahead of title rival Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne in the ninth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Donington Park as the War for Four raged with the two riders continuing their battle for a record-breaking fourth title.

Kiyonari, who announced he will return with Buildbase BMW in the 2015 season, repaid the team’s faith in him with two stunning rides at the Leicestershire circuit to move him to within 27 points of Byrne going into the Showdown.

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Byrne had initially led the opening race with Kiyonari in close contention before moving ahead with a calculated move at the Esses, which kicked off a frantic scrap between the pair.

The lead changed at the Old Hairpin but Byrne was unable to hold it for long before Kiyonari was back in front. The race went down to the wire as twice in the closing stages they traded places before the Japanese rider took the victory by 0.184s.

Next time out Kiyonari led with Byrne trying everything he knew to find a way ahead in a vain effort to end a run extending to 11 races without a victory.

Byrne said: “I had a plan to take him at the Old Hairpin on the last lap, and had to line it up through Redgate, but I was almost launched out of my seat but managed to stay on. I gave 150 percent but was not close enough to challenge. The consolation is that I gained points on my nearest rival Josh Brookes ready for the Showdown.”

Kiyonari held on to the victory, he said: “In the first race I was under a lot of pressure and it was very difficult. In the second race I led all the laps but I was pushing so hard to stay ahead of Shakey. I gave everything because I knew that Shakey was always there. I am very happy, but very tired after today! Now I want the title.”

Tommy Bridewell, already assured of a place in the Showdown, took third ahead of his Milwaukee Yamaha team-mate Josh Brookes in the opener, then crashed next time out while Brookes took third to be second in the standings, 26 points down on Byrne.

Dan Linfoot, aboard the Quattro Plant Kawasaki and Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki’s Chris Walker complete the list of the six riders who become Title Fighters in the Showdown for the title which gets underway at the legendary Assen circuit on 19-21 September.

It was also a strong weekend for Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Waters, who was sixth in race one and bettered that result for fifth in the second after starting from pole position. Meanwhile, countryman Mitchell Carr’s comeback was cut short with a DNF in the opening race.

Luke Mossey claimed the victory in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship feature race running his Techcare Profile Triumph three seconds ahead of the fast and furious duel for second place between the Smiths Triumph teammates.

Behind Mossey the action was intense with Graeme Gowland holding off his teammate Billy McConnell to take second place and close to within a single point of the Aussie at the sharp-end of the title stakes with three rounds remaining.

Honda’s Jason O’Halloran stormed to victory in the Superstock 1000 race from Adam Jenkinson by 0.852s and Joe Burns. David Johnson suffered a DNF.

The Supertsock 600 ranks saw Andy Reid claim victory, while Levi Day was a solid sixth and Benjamin Currie also a non-finisher.

2014 British Superbike Championship
Round nine – Donington Park

Superbike race one results:
1. Ryuichi Kiyonari
2. Shane Byrne +0.184s
3. Tommy Bridewell +1.188s
4. Josh Brookes (AUS) +1.614s
5. Stuart Easton +4.519s
6. Josh Waters (AUS) +5.298s
7. Peter Hickman +5.598s
8. Dan Linfoot +10.582s
9. Patric Muff +15.00s
10. James Westmoreland +15.104s

Superbike race two results:
1. Ryuichi Kiyonari
2. Shane Byrne +0.489s
3. Josh Brookes (AUS) +1.183s
4. Stuart Easton +7.438s
5. Josh Waters (AUS) +10.874s
6. Julien da Costa +11.764s
7. Peter Hickman +15.039s
8. James Westmoreland +16.102s
9. John Hopkins +16.965s
10. Chris Walker +17.190s

Superbike championship standings:
1. Shane Byrne 562
2. Josh Brookes (AUS) 536
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari 535
4. Tommy Bridewell 508
5. Chris Walker 505
6. Dan Linfoot 501
7. Stuart Easton 150
8. James Ellison 131
9. Josh Waters (AUS) 118
10. John Hopkins 100

Supersport feature race results:
1. Luke Mossey
2. Graeme Gowland +3.323s
3. Billy McConnell (AUS) +3.522s
4. Luke Stapleford +5.428s
5. Glenn Irwin +6.011s

Supersport championship standings:
1. Billy McConnell (AUS) 301
2. Graeme Gowland 300
3. Alastair Seeley 242
4. Glenn Irwin 232
5. Luke Jones 203

Click here for detailed results