Ryuichi Kiyonari has been confirmed to make a shock return to HM Plant Honda and the British Superbike Championship for the upcoming Croft round of the series.

Kiyonari, the BSB champion in 2006 and 2007, has been racing in the world championship for Ten Kate Honda in recent years, but will return to familiar territory this weekend as the replacement for Glen Richards, who continues to be sidelined by injury.

A surprise return for the Japanese rider, who has endured a chequered season at international level this year, Kiyonari is delighted to be returning to Croft, the scene of two of his race wins on the way to the 2007 title.

"I'm really excited to be riding for the HM Plant Honda team again,” he said. “I'm also very happy to race in BSB and especially at Croft. I love this circuit and won both races when I last raced there in 2007.

Marking another revised line-up for the HM Plant Honda team, Kiyonari joins forces with Josh Brookes, who returns to action following his two race ban.

“I am there to get results, to be back on the podium and to stay focussed on the final rounds,” he said: “At Knockhill I was running at the front, not that far off Camier and we had a bit of a scrap, so I want to come back here and challenge him again.”