Tommy Hill upstaged title chasing Michael Rutter to head free practice times ahead of the Holiday Monday double race tenth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park.

Riding the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha, the 20 year old Lingfield rider smashed almost a second off the Lincolnshire circuit lap record, covering the undulating 2.18 miles in 1m 28.213secs.

Hill is still chasing a maiden victory in the country's premier series, with a best result so far this season of seventh, but his maturing style took him to a winning double in the recent non-championship event at Castle Combe.

Rutter, who needs strong results here after a disappointing time in the previous round at Silverstone which saw his lead reduced to 26 points, ran a little under half a second down aboard his HM Plant Honda.

“I've picked myself up after Silverstone and am now focussed on the job in hand - at least I scored points there, but, here I need victories to stay ahead,” said Rutter, whose two main rivals, his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari and Gregorio Lavilla, both struggled to match the pace.

They ran down the pack, while Aussie Dean Thomas, riding the Hawk Kawasaki, and Leon Haslam, on the Airwaves Ducati, moved into close contention, marginally slower than Rutter.

Karl Harris, the three times British Supersport Champion, ran fifth fastest, 1m 28.790secs, ahead of Sean Emmett (Yamaha), Glen Richards (Kawasaki) and the Rizla Suzuki duo of James Haydon, a faller during the morning session, and the reigning champion John Reynolds.

Gregorio Lavilla, tenth fastest, struggled somewhat as he learned the demanding circuit, with a best time of 1m 29.455secs, while surprisingly Ryuichi Kiyonari, Rutter's team-mate and nearest rival was well of the pace, languishing back in fourteenth place on the leaderboard, with a best lap of 1m 29.886secs.

James Buckingham, the points leader in the British Superbike Cup, looks set to tighten his grip after heading practice for that category aboard his Quay Garage Suzuki.

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