RECORD crowds at Brands Hatch witnessed Ryuichi Kiyonari become the first Japanese rider to win a domestic title.

Kiyonari was crowned British Superbike champion on Sunday after a first and second place on his HM Plant Honda was enough to pip Leon Haslam into second place by eight points. The victory gave Honda its first major British bike racing title since 1986.

In an incident-packed final round, reigning champion Gregorio Lavilla’s hopes of retaining his crown went up in smoke after crashing out on the first lap of the restarted opening race. A gearbox problem on his Airwaves Ducati then prevented the Spaniard from competing in the second.

There was drama when heavy rain forced the first race to be red-flagged after only four laps. The restart promptly saw Lavilla crash out on lap one at Hawthorns.

Haslam and Kiyonari traded first place throughout the race. The Briton led until lap eight, when Kiyonari made his move, but Haslam eased his Airwaves Ducati back into the lead at Westfield on lap nine.

On the next lap Kiyonari passed his rival again, and this time he managed to hold onto the lead.

The race was red flagged for a second time on lap 14 because of Sittingbourne rider Shane Byrne’s high side off his Rizla Suzuki on the approach to Druids.

After winning the first race of the day, Kiyonari only had to finish fourth in the next to be sure of the title.

He set the early pace, but a determined Haslam, knowing his only hope was to win the race, responded. After taking the lead on the sixth lap at Graham Hill bend, he never looked like relinquishing it and gained a deserved top podium finish. However, Kiyonari held onto second and that was enough to take the title.