Michael Rutter set the pace in free practice for the Holiday Monday double race eleventh round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park, but he was only a split second ahead of series leader John Reynolds.

The HM Plant Honda rider had ridden consistently throughout the day, with his best lap of the demanding Lincolnshire circuit coming in a time of 1m 29.115s, an average speed of 88.06mph, but, by the end of the second session, Reynolds had closed within 0.03 seconds.

Riding the Rizla Suzuki, Reynolds has a 50 points advantage going into the final third of the campaign but he is far from complacent as he bids for a third crown. “If I am going to win the title, I need more wins, starting here. It will be tough, but I am up for it.”

Rutter shares those sentiments. He grabbed a lifeline in the previous round, at Croft, as he ended a lean spell with a double victory: “now I need to win both of these races to have any chance of catching John. I am focussed on just that, and with my team being based at nearby Louth I am hoping for local support to spur me on.”

Yukio Kagayama, the team-mate of Reynolds, set third best time, with a lap of 1m 29.368s as he returns to the circuit where last year he suffered critical injuries in an horrific crash. The Japanese rider, fourth in the standings, has put that behind him.

“I am happy just to be here and to race - I am a professional racer and think that I have unfinished business here. This is a big weekend for me and I want this to be a good result circuit for me,” said Kagayama.

Scott Smart, riding the Hawk Kawasaki, again caught the eye with a stylish performance. He was fastest in the morning session, and fourth overall, with a best time of 1m 29.523s, with Sean Emmett riding the MonsteMob Ducati not far adrift, but under pressure from Ryuichi Kiyonari.

ends