Three-time British Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari will stand-in for the injured Dan Linfoot at the Oulton Park round this week✱end for Honda Racing to mark an eye-catching return.

The Japanese rider is statistically th🍸e most successful rider at the Cheshire tracks with 12 race wins and has legendary status in BSB as a three-time champion.

Kiyonari left the series at the end ofꦆ 2016 to return to the Japanese championship with Moriwaki Honda but with Linfoot sidelined by injury sustained at Brands Hatch Indy Kiyonari has received a late call-up to race alongside regular Honda Racing rider Jason O’Halloran.

“I am sorry to hear about Dan, and first of all I wish him a speedy recovery,” Kiyonari said. “I am happy to fill for him at Oulton Park with the team I have been racing with for a long time. BSB is a like a home to me 💛and I am thrilled to be back racing again.

“I have been on the Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR since last season and with the team we know each other well. I will do m🌺y best to 🤡finish high up in the races.”

Honda Racing boss Havier Beltran is thrilled to welcome the three-time champion back and is confident the Japanese rider will be instantl🦹y up to speed given his current links to Honda and his history at the circ🍃uit.

“It’s great to have Kiyo back w🧸ith us for Oulton Park and I can’t think of anyone better suited to fill in for Dan,” Beltran said. “Kiyo has a lot♊ of history with Honda and this team, and it’s good that he knows most of the guys so it won’t take him long to get settled back in.

“He’s a very talented rider and Honda 🐽has always had an extremely high regard of his skills as a racer, and his long-term experience with the Fireblade will surely help the team.”