A year on from clinching the title at the final round, the exciting Japanese rider finds himself amid a three rider duel for the crown, but this time he goes in with a 37 points advantage over his rivals.

Despite that fact, reigning champion Kiyonari is taking nothing for granted. He had been expected to retain his title in the penultimate round at Donington Park but was punted off his machine in the opening race there, when he was caught up in another rider's crash.

The winner of nine races to date, Kiyonari recovered to take third place next time out, and that leaves him needing a fourth place finish or better, at the Kent circuit, to put the crown out of reach of both his team-mate Jonathan Rea and Airwaves Ducati rider Leon Haslam.

His rivals have only one option and that is to ride for victories – they are four points apart, and while the title is a long shot, there is the runner-up position at stake, and Haslam, who had to settle for second last year, put himself into a strong position with the first winning double of his career last time out at Donginton Park.

Rea, who has already confirmed a move into the World Supersport series next year with the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team, is keen to sign off from the country's premier motor sport series on a high note, with a taste of the victor's champagne.

Gregorio Lavilla, the title winner of two years ago, is another rider gunning for glory – the stylish Spaniard has had a tumultuous campaign, not taking a victory since the first visit to Oulton Park back in May, but the Airwaves Ducati rider is back to fitness and scoring consistently to suggest that he will be running up front again.

And, there is not just the Bennetts British Superbike title to be decided – there is also the final shoot-out in the Airwaves Speed League, which takes account of fastest laps during races, with Kiyonari holding a single point advantage over Lavilla. At stake is a £5000 cheque for the charity of the Speed League winner's choice.

The fast rising challenge of young Brits cannot be ignored by the leading quartet in the points standings, with Tom Sykes, the 22 year old Yorkshireman maturing with every appearance aboard the Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda, and with five podium finishes in the last six races, including a pair of seconds at Donington, he is long overdue maiden victory.

His team-mate, former champion Shane Byrne, is also keen to impress on what is his local circuit, and where he made his racing debut prior to a long career in top-flight domestic action and MotoGP. And, at this time of year with future contracts uppermost in everyone's minds, Chris Walker would relish a first victory aboard the Rizla Suzuki, as would his teamster, the former British Supersport Champion Cal Crutchlow.