Kawasaki rider Tom Sykes made a triumphant return to British Superbike Championship with a double victory at Brands Hatch.

The Yorkshireman took a break from the World Superbike series to dominate Sunday's races after coming fifth in Saturday's opening race won by Alastair Seeley aboard the Relentless Suzuki.

On Sunday, Sykes twice beat off the determined Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) to take the spoils as the Japanese moved into the lead of the riders' championship standings.

"It's good to be back, good to race here, and to be out front in this race," said Sykes.

"We made big changes to the bike after Saturday's race, so fair play to the team who worked so hard.

"This victory is a thank you to them. It was hard and challenging but I loved it."

Sykes took the lead on the fourth lap of the opening race and held station to the flag ahead of Kiyonari.

Kiyonari took the lead in the final race of the weekend but Sykes shadowed him closely before passing the Japanese on the fifth pass through Paddock Hill Bend.

Sykes, who won three times in BSB before his graduation to the world stage at the start of 2009, went on to complete his double by half a second from Kiyonari, and he added: "[That] has helped us so much now for the rest of our season in the World Championship, the booster that we all wanted."

Kiyonari's brace of second-placed finishes lifts him onto 249 points, seven ahead of Worx Crescent Suzuki rider Tommy Hill in the title stakes, with Brookes third on 239 points.