His double at Brands Hatch was the first of Toseland's career

The Briton eased through race one from Yamaha Motor Italia's Troy Corser and Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi.

The Ten Kate Honda rider was pushed harder in race two, but still did enough to pip Noriyuki Haga and Corser.

"To get my first ever double at Brands Hatch is very emotional," he said. "It's just overwhelming, I'm ecstatic."

Toseland now leads the championship by 66 points from new second-placed man Haga of Yamaha Motor Italia with just six races remaining.

My family and close friends are my rock and I just want to dedicate this to them James Toseland

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

Toseland added: "I wanted it so much earlier than this. This is my seventh year of Superbike racing and I don't know what I've been playing at all these years!

"But I can't thank everybody enough, now. My family and close friends are my rock and I just want to dedicate this to them."

Toseland - who has announced he will switch to MotoGP from 2008 - had to overhaul Troy Bayliss from pole in race one.

After the manoeuvre, the Australian crashed out on lap four, losing control at Druids, and Toselandenjoyed a comfortable passage to victory thereafter.

The Englishman suffered a similarly sluggish start at the lights in race two, dropping to third before pulling a stunning move on Bayliss and then overhauling Haga in quick succession to hit the front early on.

He and Haga then enjoyed a ding-dong battle for the rest of the race, the pair swapping the lead three times, before Toseland edged home late on to seal a historic double and put himself well on course for the riders' title.

World Superbike results, Brands Hatch:

Race One:
1 James Toseland (GB) Honda 36 minutes, 35.120 seconds
2 Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha 36:36.674
3 Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki 36:38.037
4 Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati 36:45.322
5 Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Honda 36:49.253
6 Roberto Rolfo (Ita) Honda 36:49.443
7 Noriyuki Haga (Jap) Yamaha 36:54.500
8 Regis Laconi (Fra) Kawasaki 36:57.796
9 Lorenzo Lanzi (Ita) Ducati 36:59.379
10 Max Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki 36:59.543

Race Two:
1 James Toseland (GB) Honda, 36 minutes, 34.177 seconds
2 Noriyuki Haga (Jap) Yamaha 36:35.863
3 Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha 36:35.937
4 Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Honda 36:42.633
5 Yukio Kagayama (Jap) Suzuki 36:43.165
6 Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati 36:43.647
7 Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 36:52.490
8 Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki 36:53.293
9 Regis Laconi (Fra) Kawasaki 36:54.678
10 Max Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki 36:54.763