Reigning MCE Insurance British Superbike Champions Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) have signed Japanese star Noriyuki Haga to contest the final three rounds of the 2013 Championship.

The former triple runner-up in the World Superbike Championship will join MCE British Championship leader and defending champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne on board a Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R for all three Showdown rounds, starting at Assen this coming weekend.

Having won 43 WSBK races in a distinguished career, Haga raced in BSB last season and despite suffering a broken collarbone at Cadwell Park, bounced back late in the season to claim eighth place in the final standings.

Earlier this season, Nori-chan took a third place podium finish at the prestigious Suzuka Eight Hours race in his native Japan alongside former 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz.

Haga will get his first taste of the Minxflix-supported Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R in a test at Snetterton en route to Assen and will also be in action on the bike at familiar tracks to him including Silverstone (October 4/6th) and the Brands Hatch GP circuit finale (October 18/20th).

Paul Bird, Team Owner: "I have always admired Nori throughout his career and it's fair to say he's one of my heroes so I'm delighted to have the chance to work with him. He's proven many times that he's a great rider and showed at the tracks he knew last year that he could still be very competitive. He was on pole position at Assen last year and rode a couple of brilliant races so despite not doing a lot of racing this year, he'll be very strong. He loves all three Showdown tracks and if he can also help Shakey's bid for the title, all well and good."