Leon Haslam riding the Airwaves Ducati topped the testing leaderboard as the leading contenders for the Bennetts British Superbike crown took advantage of an official practice day at Croft, the North Yorkshire circuit that stages the double race sixth round of the championship on Sunday week, 5 June.

Michael Rutter, the championship leader, fresh from taking his eleventh victory in the NorthWest 200 event at the weekend, was third fastest in each session, but satisfied with his work aboard the HM Plant Honda.

The changeable conditions, with rain falling at various times made life difficult for everyone but again Jonathan Rea, who, riding the Red Bull Honda claimed pole start at Mondello Park, was equal to the pace, marginally faster than Rutter in the morning, then sixth in the afternoon.

Tommy Hill, riding the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha, was second fastest in the afternoon's quicker session, with his team-mate for this round, James Haydon settling well, running fifth fastest - the Andorran based rider is deputising for Sean Emmett as he shrugs off the arm injuries sustained in a crash at Brands Hatch earlier in the season.

Much of the attention was focussed on the Rizla Suzuki of John Reynolds - the defending champion£ made a positive return after missing the two previous rounds to aid the recovery of the right leg he broke in a high-speed crash in testing.

He ran fourth fastest in the morning session, but was back in fourteenth in the afternoon, as some riders were able to exploit more fully the drier conditions and he will be racing.

Steve Plater, after an earlier tumble from his Sendo Kawasaki, recovered to post seventh best time overall but Gregorio Lavilla, the Spanish rider who goes into the event aiming to reduce his 46 points deficit on Rutter in the title stakes had a difficult time.

Riding the Airwaves Ducati he was back in ninth place first time out, and tumbled out of the afternoon session, without injury.