British Superbike preview for Oulton Park
Raceline Photography
By blue2bikes
April 29 2005
Ryuichi Kiyonari has been cleared to race this Bank Holiday weekend after his horrendous crash at Mallory Park and hitting the tyre barrier. Although picking up an injury to his right leg, causing him to chip a bone in his right ankle, he is in some pain as you can imagine.
Ryuichi Kiyonari’s crash - photo © Raceline Photography
He will be wearing a removable cast, and will be on crutches to relieve the weight he puts on his right leg. Having now been cleared to race, if the pain is too severe he will withdraw from the racing to give him time to heal more quickly.
Ryuichi Kiyonari’s crash - photo © Raceline Photography
‘The Kiyo Kid’ said, “I feel a little beaten up at the moment. My ankle is sore and my left ankle is still sore after a pre-race incident at Thruxton some weeks ago. But I hope that won’t stop me from challenging for more race wins. Last year I broke my collarbone at Oulton Park, and I am hoping for a bit more luck this time around.”
Team-mate Michael Rutter said, “I am really revved up for Oulton Park. The HM Plant team has had a good year this year, and we are aiming to ensure it continues. I have made no secret that I want the title this year, and I am aware I will have to work very hard for it - particularly with a team-mate like Kiyo.”
Meanwhile Steve Plater has also been cleared to race, after he was knocked unconscious at yet another crash at Mallory Park last weekend, leaving him concussed. Karl Harris will be racing at Oulton Park after his crash at Mallory Park. Although he is undergoing physio on his sore ankle, the super fit Karl will not be hanging around, and will run at his usual fast pace. No more news of Tommy Hill at the moment, but I am going on the theory that no news is good news, and Tommy will be racing as well.
The lap record at Oulton Park is on a Ducati, and you can be sure that Leon Haslam and Gregorio Lavilla will be wanting to gain more points this weekend. Leon is familiar with the Cheshire circuit, and will go well. The Kiyo Kid has already tested at Oulton Park, and again put in more test laps than anyone else, so injured or not if he is feeling well enough I can see him being the man to beat once again.
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