Three-time MCE British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari will return to the series in 2013 in an attempt to win a fourth crown.

The Japanese star, who won the Asian Road Racing crown this year, left BSB after a disappointing 2011 and it was thought by many it would be the last time he would be seen racing in the UK. Kiyo was also linked with a job in MotoGP CRT, developing Honda's 2014 premier class production racers.

He is, however, coming back to the UK and will team up with youngster Alex Lowes as Samsung Honda start 2013 with a whole new rider line-up.

"I am very, very happy to be back because I have missed BSB so much. I want to be better than before. I miss the championship: the races, the fans, the team – all of it and that is why I have returned. I know that next season is very important for me and I need to get results and wins because I don't want it to be like last time (2011)," said Kiyo.

"I want to be challenging again like when I won the title before. I have to give more than one hundred percent and I want a fourth title to show that I can do it again. I want to show what I can still do; I want to win more titles. My aim is for more wins and be champion again. I don't know if I will be a target, I think the riders will want to beat Shakey. I don?t care about looking at other riders, because I just want to win and that is what I will focus on."