Toseland does the double at Brands Hatch

Sheffield’s Toseland claimed his seventh and eighth wins of 2007 after racing untroubled to the flag in race one from Yamaha Motor Italia’s Troy Corser and Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) in third.

The 26-year-old HANNspree Ten Kate Honda was made to work hard to claim the race two laurels, however, but did enough to fend off the charging Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia), while Corser claimed his second podium of the day in third.

Toseland, who is quitting Superbikes for MotoGP next year, now leads the championship by 66 points from new second-place man Haga with just six races left.

Biaggi, Toseland’s nearest title challenger prior to this weekend, has slipped from the pace after a ride-through penalty for a jump start in race two compromised his charge.

After completing his second win of the day, Toseland was mobbed on his warm-down lap as he stopped time and again to remove his race wear.

With his gloves and boots hurled to the spectators at Druids and Hawthorn Bend, Toseland finally shed his leathers in front of the main grandstands before throwing them to his adoring fans.

Afterwards, an emotional Toseland dedicated his double triumph to his family.

“I wanted it so much earlier than this,” he said.

“This is my seventh year of Superbike racing and this is my first double win - I can’t believe it. I don’t know what I’ve been playing at all these years but to do it at Brands Hatch is very emotional.

It’s just overwhelming. My family and close friends are my rock and I just want to dedicate this to them.”

Championship Standings: 1 James Toseland (Gbr) Honda 355pts, 2 Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Yamaha 289, 3 Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki 286, 4 Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 258, 5 Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha 227.