MCE INSURANCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 03 SUNDAY 15 MAY CROFT PREVIEW HONDA’S BYRNE BIDS TO TIGHTEN GRIP ON SERIES LEAD UNDER PRESSURE FROM KIYONARI Shane Byrne will be looking to maintain his strong and consistent early season form as he bids to tighten his grip on the title chase at the Croft circuit in North Yorkshire but the HM Plant Honda rider will be under pressure from his team-mate the reigning champion Ryuichi Kiyonari. Byrne, who marked his return to the domestic series, after two years in World Superbike action, with a winning ride at Brands Hatch, has packed the points with two other podium finishes and a close run fourth placing. That puts Byrne 11 points clear of Stuart Easton, aboard a Kawasaki, with Kiyonari, the three times winner of the British crown, in third place, only a single point down on the Scot. The circuit has not in previous years been one of the best for Byrne and he goes there with memories of a painful tumble on his last visit, back in 2008, in practice ahead of races in which he could have sealed the crown. Instead he battled to fifth and fourth, despite being sore, and secured his second title in the penultimate round. He has not enjoyed a podium finish at the former airfield circuit in North Yorkshire, a record that he is keen to put straight this time but, the opposition has both quantity and quality about it, and the four races so far this campaign have produced four different races, Byrne and Kiyonari among them. Of the other race winners this season, Tommy Hill, who damaged ligaments in his left shoulder in a heavy crash during warm-up practice for the Oulton Park round faces a race against a time to be fit to compete, while Suzuki’s John Hopkins, having scored his maiden success at the Cheshire circuit is eager for more. Easton, a race winner at Croft two years ago, has settled well to riding Kawasaki, while last year’s runner-up in the series, Josh Brookes, is keen to put two heavy crashes behind him with a winning ride. This is the scenario that Byrne and Kiyonari are in, but the Japanese rider, though acknowledging the nature of this circuit is challenging to him, as shown in last years action when he ran 11th and fourth, but he has enjoyed good results there in the past. Kiyonari won races in each of 2005 and 2006 and completed a winning double in 2007 and that is the form he needs to enjoy to get ahead of the pack. Significantly, the HM Plant Honda riders have tested at Darley Moor circuit in Derbyshire to resolve some of the machine issues they had to contend with at Oulton Park and they are confident that they have made a breakthrough ahead of these third round races. Tommy Bridewell, the Tyco Honda rider, who took a third place in the opening round, will be back in action, having missed the Oulton Park races after a heavy crash in free practice that extensively damaged his Fireblade, which incidentally is the one that took Kiyonari to the title last year. The team will have Bridewell back on track and the Wiltshire rider is looking to repay their hard work to repair his bike with strong performances. In the BSB-EVO class Alex Lowes, riding for WFR Honda team, is confident that he continue his excellent start to the season in which he has taken a second place, to his team-mate, the former Supersport and Superstock champion Glen Richards first time out, and then three straight victories. That puts the Lincolnshire rider well clear in the title stakes, but Richards, after a couple of tumbles is keen to peg him back with strong results, while the team’s third rider Graeme Gowland, who suffered wrist injuries in the opener, is hoping to be fit to ride in his home round. Honda rider quotes: Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda): “For me Croft has been a difficult track in the past, although I have won there before. It is a completely different track to Brands Hatch and Oulton Park where we have raced already. It is very bumpy so the setting is going to be critical to be able to win. My bike is better than last season already with the work we have done over the winter – we have pushed hard to fight for the wins so I want to be on the podium and winning again at Croft.” Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda): “I am sure it is going to be a tricky weekend as Croft. It is one of those circuits that can be difficult to find a good set up. But that said we had a good test at Darley Moor and sorted out the issues we experienced at Oulton Park. We made a bit of a breakthrough, the team are working really hard and we should be able to get it right from the start in free practice. I am happy to be leading the championship, but its early days and this is a circuit where I have not had the best of results. I can’t say I dislike it but it is not a favourite. That said the title is won over 12 rounds so I have to do the best possible job there. I will push on as hard as I can and hopefully get back to winning again.”