Kiyonari takes race two but Lavilla weaves through

 Ruichi Kiyonari secured win number three of the season at Oulton Park this afternoon in a thrilling second race.

The Japanese rider and defending champion had to fight hard for his win. Despite starting second on the grid it was Stobart Vent Axia Honda’s Tom Sykes who came from fourth to take the lead going into the first corner.

Sykes was then caught going into lap two with Virgin Media Optima Loans rider Tommy Hill who stunned everyone by storming through to take the lead.

Hill lost his lead to Kiyonari on lap four with Haslam also soon taking his place and also hanging on to overtake the HM Plant man.

Haslam was determined to cling on to his lead, but a more shrewd Kiyonari got the better of the Airwaves Ducati rider on lap 10 following several hairy previous attempts.

The story of the race came from race one winner, Gregorio Lavilla. The Spaniard dropped back to 14th following a poor start, but he rode the race of his life to get up to fourth, and a possible podium, by the end setting three consecutive fastest laps on the way.

This race felt even closer than the first with eight riders all taking the chequered flag within just a few seconds.

But in the end Kiyonari held off Haslam who finished up with his podium of the day. Taking the third podium slot was Honda rider Shane Byrne, who had claimed his third after a pulsating battle with Hill for a good part of the race.

Karl Harris was the first victim of the race as he came off on lap four.

The other was Cal Crutchlow as the engine in his Suzuki let go on lap 12 forcing officials to pull him in as he dropped oil around the Cheshire circuit.

Race two results:

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Honda 27:33.097
2. Leon Haslam GBR Ducati 27:35.274
3. Shane Byrne GBR Honda 27:36.660
4. Gregorio Lavilla ESP Ducati 27:37.138
5. Jonathan Rea GBR Honda 27:40.500
6. Tom Sykes GBR Honda 27:40.761
7. Tommy Hill GBR Yamaha 27:40.883
8. Leon Camier GBR Honda 27:46.957
9. Chris Walker GBR Suzuki 28:04.460
10. Dean Thomas AUS Suzuki 28:05.490
11. Ollie Bridewell GBR Suzuki 28:14.346
12. Tommy Bridewell GBR Suzuki 28:14.406
13. Michael Rutter GBR Kawasaki 28:14.638
14. Simon Andrews GBR Honda 28:15.716
15. Chris Martin GBR Honda 28:23.779
16. Scott Smart GBR Kawasaki 28:28.502
17. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Virgin 28:42.212
18. James Buckingham GBR Honda 28:42.212
19. Tristan Palmer GBR Honda 28:50.216
20. Malcolm Ashley GBR Kawasaki 29:10.007

Championship points after round eight:

1. Gregorio Lavilla 169
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari 140
3. Jonathan Rea 109
4. Leon Haslam 104
5. Leon Camier 96
6. Tom Sykes 80
7. Shane Byrne 71
8. Chris Walker 62
9. Tommy Hill 52
10. Michael Rutter 45
11. Karl Harris 43
12. Cal Crutchlow 35
13. Tommy Bridewell 21
14. Simon Andrews 18
15. Ollie Bridewell 17
16. Dean Thomas 17
17. Scott Smart 14
18. Peter Hickman 13
19. Steve Plater 8
20. Cameron Donald 2
21. Guy Martin 2
22. James Haydon 1
23. Chris Mrtin 1