The British Superbike championship took a major twist this morning after Ryuichi Kiyonari crashed out of the practice session at Brands, breaking his collarbone and possibly eliminating himself from the title fight.

With heavy overnight rain and the track remaining damp despite the sunshine and relatively warm temperatures during the morning session, Kiyo was caught out at Graham Hill corner on the second lap.

The three time champion landed heavily on his shoulder (the one he broke in training half way though last season), leaving him with an undisplaced fracture.

With Shakey already holding a twelve point lead in the title chase, Kiyo had a mountain to climb, but any chance of taking the title, now seems to have slipped away from his grasp, ahead of the first of the weekends races this afternoon.

Kiyo is currently undergoing physio and pain relief, and with the break being relatively clean, there does remain a chance that the Japanese rider could in fact compete later in this afternoons race.


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