WORLD Superbike ace Tom Sykes will return to his former battle ground when he joins the BSB grid onboard the factory WSB Kawasaki at the eighth round of the British Superbike championship at Brands Hatch next month.

The annual August event on the 2.3-mile Grand Prix circuit will be an epic triple-header as the fight for the title intensifies with the all-important showdown rapidly approaching.

Former BSB title contender Sykes is relishing the challenge of renewing his on-track rivalries as he aims to settle old scores and take on some of this year’s hottest properties.

Sykes last raced in BSB back in 2008 when he was embroiled in a five-way fight for the title, eventually finishing the season fourth.

His impressive BSB track record launched him onto the world stage and the Kawasaki world Superbike championship rider is continuing to demonstrate impressive pace in his second season in WSB.

Sykes is currently the sole rider for the squad as team-mate Chris Vermeulen is sidelined through injury for the remainder of the season but an announcement regarding the team’s second rider is due to be made soon.

He said: “I am really excited to have this opportunity to race in front of the British fans at the biggest BSB round of the season at Brands Hatch, which still has to be one of my favourite race tracks in the world.

“The Paul Bird Motorsport Kawasaki team put in a great performance last year with three podium finishes and I am now looking forward to going head-to-head with the best of BSB in a few weeks’ time.

“It has been a fantastic year for me, even though the results don’t necessarily show it, and I am sure we will give the BSB regulars a good battle for those wins.”

Sykes also appeared as a wildcard entry at the last world Superbike championship event to take place at Brands in 2008, while competing in BSB.

He finished an impressive seventh in race two and the Briton will be hoping for even greater success when he takes on an international field of world-class riders in BSB at Brands between August 6 and August 8.

Advance adult weekend admission tickets cost just £30 online, with children aged 12 and under admitted free.

Limited grandstand and camping tickets are also on sale now.

For more information, visit brandshatch.co.uk or call 0870 950 9000.