Three-time British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari announced his retirement from racing earlier this week, with the multiple title-winner etched in history as a legendary rider in the series history.
Kiyonari had 236 appearances in the Championship, with success not only with Honda, but also in the later stages with BMW and the Japanese rider celebrated three titles and 50 race wins during his career in BSB.
After announcing his retirement, Kiyo had the following message for the BSB fans:
“I want to say thank you so, so much to all the BSB fans, BSB team and sponsors, riders, staff, marshals, medics - to everybody. I had wins and podiums because I met good people and always had good people around me. I really enjoyed racing in BSB, working with the teams.
"I also enjoyed drinking John Smiths! I miss the UK so much, but it is still hard to eat black pudding and marmite!
"BSB is my everything. I will now enjoy what is next and the future.”