Ryuichi Kiyonari's Profile
Former double British Superbike Champion Kiyo returns to the HM Plant Honda family for 2010. Kiyonari, or Kiyo as he is better known, first raced in 1988 in motocross and began road-racing in 1996, moving up to the All-Japan 125cc Championship in 1998. In 2002 he progressed to the Supersport class and began to make his mark, winning four races as well as a debut win in the All-Japan Superbike Championship.
In 2003 Kiyo replaced the late Daijiro Kato in the Gresini Honda MotoGP team, taking 19th overall in the championship with a best finish of 11th. In 2004 he joined the British Superbike championship and made an immediate impression, getting onto the podium in his first UK race and winning the last two races of 2004. He was hit by injury after a strong start to 2005, but eventually won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 with the HM Plant Honda team.
| Place of birth: | Saitama, Japan |
| Date of birth: | 23 September 1982 |
| Home town: | Louth, Lincolnshire |
| Marital status: | Married to Madoka |
| Height: | 5’6” |
| First Race: | 1996 80GP Class Tsukuba Championship. In BSB, Silverstone March 2004 |
| First Win: | 1996 80GP Class Tsukuba Championship. In BSB, Donington September 2004 |
| Hobbies: | Eating, sleeping, running and going to the gym. |
Career History
| 2009 | 11th in World Superbike Championship. Took fourth place at Croft in BSB as a wild-card |
| 2008 | World Superbike Championship. 9th overall including double wins at Brands Hatch and a win at Donington Park. Wins Suzuka Eight-Hour |
| 2007 | British Superbike Champion with HM Plant Honda |
| 2006 | British Superbike Champion with HM Plant Honda |
| 2005 | British Superbike Championship 5th |
| 2004 | British Superbike Championship 6th |
| 2003 | MotoGP championship, 19th overall. Also second in World Supersport race at Sugo |
| 2002 | Honda-Japanese ST600 Champion |
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