Jonathan Rea continued his impressive pre-season testing pace into the opening free practice sessions ahead of the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.

Promoted to the ranks of the factory backed HM Plant Honda team, the 20 year old Ballyclare rider topped the morning session with a best lap of 1m 26.281secs, and although he ran a split second down in the second session, he was still a quarter of a second faster than the rest.

“The morning went well and I was comfortable with the bike, but early on in the second I had a big moment and that affected my rhythm. I didn't really get back into it, but, we've a few things to do and I will be fine for the timed qualifying,” said Rea who goes into the opening round chasing maiden race winning glory in the elite class.

Shane `Shakey' Byrne closed in on Rea with a best lap of 1m 26.565secs, aboard the Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda, and like Rea is expecting better things now that he is settled back with the team which took him the to the title in 2003.

Third fastest was the champion of two years ago, Gregorio Lavilla. He escaped uninjured when he slid off early in the afternoon session, but returned to post a lap of 1m 26.605secs on his Airwaves Ducati, while Leon Camier, graduating into Superbikes here, lapped in 1m 26.649secs on the Bike Animal Honda.

Chris Walker, back with the Rizla Suzuki team after a seven year sortie into Grand Prix and World Superbikes, worked hard, with a best time of 1m 26.778secs, a tenth of a second up on Leon Haslam, while Ryuichi Kiyonari, the reigning champion, was struggling back in seventh place, and running a full second slower than his team-mate Rea.

The Japanese rider said with a smile: “no problems.” His best lap came in 1m 27.279secs, only marginally faster than the leading duo from last year's British Supersport Championship. Cal Crutchlow, the title winner, was the quicker of the two, aboard his Rizla Suzuki, with Tom Sykes, riding Stobart Honda, a third of a second down on him.

Tommy Hill, riding the Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha, completed the top ten, with a best lap of 1m 27.632secs, just ahead of Dean Thomas riding the Samsung Suzuki and Karl Harris on the Hydrex Honda.

Marty Nutt was the best of the British Superbike Cup riders, running seventeenth overall, with a time of 1m 28.905secs, some three quarters of a second ahead of former Cup winner James Buckingham who is returning after injury aboard the Quay Garage Honda. Malcolm Ashley was third fastest in this category, ahead of Michael Howarth.

The 32 riders taking part in the opening round have one further period of free practice on Sunday morning, 10.50-11.40, with the grid deciding timed qualifying session during the afternoon, 15.00-15.50.

The two races of the opening round, each over 20 laps, are due to start at 13.30 and 17.05 on Easter Monday.

ends