Leon Haslam, riding the Airwaves Ducati, proved consistently the fastest rider during the official Bennetts British Superbike Championship test at the Cadwell Park circuit that stages the double race tenth round on Holiday Monday 29 August.

The 22 year old Derbyshire rider, who is currently fourth in the title standings, completed 72 laps of the demanding 2.18 mile Lincolnshire circuit before rain brought the afternoon's third session to a premature end.

Haslam had set a best time of 1m 29.209 secs, 87.97mph, during the hour long morning session, running 0.46seconds faster than local favourite Steve Plater who has settled quickly to riding the Hydrex Honda.

Then he twice improved on his best lap time, taking a little under half a second off the lap record with a time of 1m 28.763s, an average speed of 88.41mph, with Aussie Dean Thomas, riding the Hawk Kawasaki the nearest to him with a time of 1m 29.072secs.

Karl Harris, riding the Honda-Racing.co.uk, Fireblade was well on the pace, along with the Rizla Suzuki riders, defending champion John Reynolds and James Haydon while title chasing Gregorio Lavilla was taking time to get the feel of the circuit, as he rode it for the first time aboard the Airwaves Ducati.

The Spaniard, who is third in the title stakes put in a best lap of 1m 30.239s to be eleventh fastest on the leaderboard, with the locally based Vivaldi Kawasaki team riders Ben Wilson, Tristan Palmer and Scott Smart setting similar times.

Michael Laverty, aboard the Stobart Honda, continued his recent progress, lapping in 1m 29.853s while Danny Beaumont, riding the Team JJL Racing Honda, was the fastest of the British Superbike Cup contenders with a best lap of 1m 31.692secs.

Neither championship leader Michael Rutter nor his HM Plant Honda team-mate and title rival Ryuichi Kiyonair took part in the test - Rutter is still recovering from the shoulder injuries sustained in a heavy crash during the Snetterton round while Kiyonari is back home in Japan where he is due to race in the Suzuki Eight Hours race on Sunday.

ends