The Penultimate Race of 2016 BSB and Kiyonari Back to the Tracks

A Mountain to ride in Cadwell Park – the British Mini Nürburgring Hosted The Penultimate Race of the Regular Season

Sunshine, a race track and an extra day off work meant prime BSB weekend time this August bank holiday. This race track isn’t any regular BSB circuit. This is the tough ‘mini Nürburgring’ of UK BSB, excitement and adrenaline were running high.

Shane Shakey Byrne sat top of the tables. Only tens of points separated the gap between second and first, he had everything to cling onto. This could be demotivating for many riders. One single win wouldn’t bump him off his BSB championship throne. But the BSB isn’t just any old championship. And this season definitely wasn’t any old season. With many new winners taking to the podium the pride of the win meant as much as an edge in the championship tables.

Did Race One end as Usually Predicted?

He ended fastest of the free practice, then Byrne began in first. He then changed with Haslam, before reclaiming the top. This then left third place open for Cooper and O’Halloran who fought a similar battle down the track, swapping in and out three times before the finish. At one point Haslam dropped back behind Cooper, moving into third – though just temporarily. Dan Linfoot was a bit quiet out of the top spot and unfortunately crashed out early. Unhurt he’s still in good form for Oulton Park but will the loss of points affect his position for the showdown?

shane-shakey-byrne-be-wiser-ducati-action-shot-cadwell-park-august-2016

At lap nine Haslam was riding at the front, though not for long. Byrne pushed through and powered down the inside at Chris Curve, moving back to winning position. O’Halloran pipped Cooper to third, whilst Cooper lost himself back in eighth. Bridewell, Irwin and Ellison completed the top six, respectively. Another crash from Iddon left him out of the line-up whilst newbie Jake Dixon did well in ninth.

Haslam fired himself on from a first-race-near-win, did he take the trophy for round two?

A gracious acceptance of second place sealed Haslam’s fate in race one. Would race two be the same?

O’Halloran lead from the get-go. Byrne and Haslam followed. Then an early crash and unfortunate finish for Mainwaring and Backlund meant the Nissan GT-R Safety Car entered the track and slowed down the race. From this point on O’Halloran, Haslam and Byrne were all fighting for the top, swapping in and out of place.

The fighting was worth it when O’Halloran managed to cling to second, behind Haslam, leaving Byrne in the unfrequented position of third. Hickman and Bridewell followed the top three with successful top sixth place finishes. Well done for Dan Linfoot who placed sixth in this race after an unfortunate crash in the first. Mossey came in a little higher at ninth and Dixon again in the top ten, tenth.

For all you Kiyonari fans out there…

He’s back!

Kiyonari and Bennetts Suzuki parted ways three races back, just after the Thruxton round of BSB 2016.
Kiyonari Smiths Racing BMW However, this separation wasn’t with BSB altogether as he’s now signed to a new team! Back to the BMW Kiyonari, three-time MCE BSB champion, will ride the same manufacturer’s bike but with the Smiths Racing Team.

“It is good that my first race with the team is at Oulton Park as I have won many times there and had strong results, so I hope we can make a good start to the final rounds of the season there. I want to thank my sponsors and also Alan and Rebecca for this opportunity and I am looking forward to Oulton Park.”

What’s the situation before the last pre-showdown race?

Byrne, Haslam and O’Halloran, the top three finishers at the weekend, are now confirmed as three of the final showdown six. The current scores leave the remaining three to Laverty, Linfoot and Ellison. With 75 points to ride for, the latter three aren’t confirmed. The spaces could be taken by Cooper, Mossey, Hickman, Iddon, Bridewell or Irwin.

Not only will Oulton Park be the final race before the showdown, but Kiyonari will be back in the race mix. Though he’s out of possible point-range for climbing back into the top six, he might make each race a bigger challenge, and a more exciting watch! We hope you’ll follow along too and read back here after the weekend for another of our BSB round-ups.

Thank you to BSB for allowing us use of their exciting Cadwell Park shots

Laura McLoughlin

Laura is a seasoned blogger and excited to put her writing skills to the test at Two Wheel. She’s ridden a scooter in South Korea and India and is keen to test her mettle with a full license one day. When not dreaming of her next big travel adventure she’s usually out running or snapping away on her DSLR.