Ryuichi Kiyonari

Racing Number: 23
Birthplace: Saitama, Japan
Birth Date: 23 September 1982
Motorcycle: Honda CBR1000RR SP2

Background

Ryuichi Kiyonari

It’s fitting that when Honda made its return to factory involvement in World Superbike racing, the team recruited Ryuichi Kiyonari. The veteran Japanese racer has a long history with the manufacturer, with whom he started his road racing career over two decades ago and has since spent most of his career. A onetime youth motocross racer, Kiyonari has campaigned the Japanese and British domestic championships (he’s a two-time BSB champ), Asian regional championship, MotoGP and World SBK, but he is perhaps best known for his many participations in the Suzuka 8 Hours; “Kiyo” has no fewer than four victories in that famous endurance race, which is extremely popular in his home country and among motorcycling fans all over the world.

Kiyonari spent the past two years racing in Japan with Moriwaki Engineering, so he already had a relationship with some of the new squad’s personnel as they entered the 2019 season together. He earned three wins and three additional podium finishes over the three seasons that he previously spent in World SBK, from 2008 to 2010; that experience is also valuable in his current situation.

IG @ryuichi_kiyonari_official

• 2019: Joins Moriwaki-Althea Honda Racing in World Superbike
• 2018: Campaigns All Japan Road Race JSB1000 series with Moriwaki Engineering, scoring a win in the final round
• 2017: 11^th overall in All Japan Road Race JSB1000 series with Moriwaki Engineering
• 2016: 20^th overall in British Superbike with Suzuki
• 2015: 20^th overall in British Superbike for Buildbase BMW
• 2014: 2^nd overall in British Superbike for Buildbase BMW, with seven wins, 13 podiums
• 2013: 6^th overall in British Superbike with Samsung Honda
• 2012: Asia Road Race SuperSports 600 Champion with Boon Siew Honda
• 2011: 6^th overall in British Superbike for HM Plant Honda. Also wins Suzuka 8 Hours with Kousuke Akiyoshi and Shinichi Itoh aboard an F.C.C. TSR Honda CRB1000RRW
• 2010: British Superbike Champion for HM Plant Honda. Also wins Suzuka 8 Hours with Takumi Takahashi and Takaaki Nakagami aboard a HARC Honda CRB1000RR
• 2009: 11^th overall in World Superbike for Ten Kate Honda
• 2008: 9^th overall in World Superbike for Ten Kate Honda, with three wins. Also wins Suzuka 8 Hours with Carlos Checa aboard a Dream Honda CBR1000RRW
• 2007: British Superbike Champion, aboard a Honda CBR1000RR
• 2006: British Superbike Champion, aboard a Honda CBR1000RR
• 2005: 2^nd overall in British Superbike, aboard a Honda CBR1000RR. Also wins Suzuka 8 Hours with Tohru Okawa on a Seven Stars Honda CBR1000RRW
• 2004: 6^th overall in British Superbike, aboard a Honda CBR1000RR
• 2003: 20^th overall in MotoGP as a replacement rider for the late Daijiro Kato with Gresini Honda, despite missing first three rounds
• 2002 All Japan Road Race ST600 Champion, aboard a Honda CRB600RR
• 2001: 16^th overall in All Japan Road Race GP250 series, aboard a Honda RS250R
• 2000: 20^th overall in All Japan Road Race GP250 series, aboard a Honda RS250R
• 1999: 23^rd overall in All Japan Road Race GP125 series, aboard a Honda RS125R
• 1998: 26^th overall in All Japan Road Race GP125 series, aboard a Honda RS125R