The HM Plant Honda team were victorious at the seventh round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Snetterton today (Saturday) as Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari finished the opening race in first and second places respectively.
Josh had been the rider to beat ahead of the first of three races in Norfolk; he had topped the opening two free practice sessions and then had set pole position for tomorrow’s second race in the earlier qualifying session. However, a slow start put him ninth on the opening lap, but a determined performance saw him dice his way through the field to run second behind his team-mate who had led from the start.
On the final lap he managed to take the lead into Riches and then held off the challenges from Kiyo to win his third race of the season. Kiyo had made further improvements to the HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR since free practice which saw him back at the sharp end during the opening race. He now hopes that a few slight adjustments ahead of tomorrow’s two races could put him in a position to return to the top step at a circuit that has been a happy hunting ground in the past.
Bryan Staring continued to make good progress on the HM Plant Honda in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship; he will start from sixth on the grid for tomorrow’s race after the second qualifying session was cancelled due to emergency circuit repair at Russells.
Josh said: “It has been a good day for me and to get pole position for tomorrow and the race win is the best start to the weekend. I didn’t get the start I needed and I went into Riches and got baulked which meant I was late on the brakes which pushed me wide. That made it more difficult for me but I knew we had a good race pace so I wasn’t totally worried and knew I just had to keep composed and pick them off one at a time. I did that and then I was closing on Kiyo but I made a mistake into Russells as although I didn’t want to make a pass at that point, I wanted to test the water and I ran wide to avoid nudging him. I then had to make it up again to Kiyo, but we were equally fast so it was difficult to find that little bit extra to make the pass.
“The laps quickly whittled away to two and I knew I was running out of time and I was looking everywhere for somewhere I could get ahead of him. I didn’t really want to make the pass at turn one as then you have to defend for the rest of the lap but that seemed the only option so I just went for it and I just stayed there. I now have 13 points over Tommy (Hill) so I am looking forward to tomorrow’s two races.”
Kiyo said: “I have to admit I am jealous of Josh for winning that race as I had come so close to winning but it was a hard race. I was not so happy with yesterday and then this morning the conditions were changing which made it hard with the setting. We have worked hard and made a big change since yesterday and we have gone from fourteenth to the podium so that makes me happy, but at the same time I am not happy to be beaten by my team-mate!
“The race was tough and towards the end I knew Josh would be there as he has been so fast and the tyre life was not as good so I didn’t want to push too hard and crash. I changed my riding style a bit and I thought I was going to be able to hold him off but he just came by and I tried but it was impossible to get him back. We have made big steps as a team since Cadwell Park and we have both had podiums so I am confident that with some more changes tomorrow we can be even stronger. I have to congratulate Josh but he wins one, then who knows, tomorrow could be my turn.”
Bryan said: “Today’s schedule got changed around so instead of qualifying we had a shortened free practice due to the track condition. Our qualifying from yesterday put me sixth on the grid and I think with a good start in the race, we definitely have a good race pace for tomorrow. The session this afternoon was encouraging on used tyres so I am finishing the day happy. I need to thank the HM Plant Honda team for the support they have given me this weekend and everyone who is keeping up to date back home.”
Team Manager Havier Beltran said: “I am pleased for both riders and everyone involved with the HM Plant Honda team, because you can’t ask for any more than a first and second place finish. Josh has been on form throughout the weekend and we knew he had the race pace to be strong here and he continued that today in the first race despite a bad start. Kiyo is still not completely happy with his machine setting, but he has had a good debrief with his crew chief Adrian Gorst and they are feeling confident of further improvements tomorrow. We now hope the conditions remain the same tomorrow and that both riders can repeat their fantastic form. In the Superstock class Bryan has continued to work well with the team and is feeling confident ahead of the race, so we are looking forward to his debut tomorrow.”
