Michael Rutter, the leader of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, powered to pole start with the fastest ever two wheel lap of the Croft circuit for the double race sixth round.

The HM Plant Honda rider left it late, finally beating off the challenge of Dean Thomas aboard the Hawk Kawasaki on the final lap of a hectic session, and then by just 0.004seconds.

Rutter clocked a scorching time of 1m 20.624secs, a little over half a second inside the record at the demanding North Yorkshire circuit to claim his third pole start of the campaign.

“I really needed that and now feel confident for the races - this was a good circuit for me last year when I won both races and now I am hoping for the same to enhance my lead in the points,” said Rutter who faces a strong challenge from his fellow front row starts, as only a third of a second separates the top four qualifiers.

Thomas is feeling good; Jonathan Rea, riding the Red Bull Honda again showed the pace that earned him the pole start in the previous round at Mondello Park, while Ryuichi Kiyonari was again well on the pace as he prepares to improve his third place in the title stakes.

Karl Harris, who had set the pace during the wet morning session had to settle for a second row start, lapping in 1m 21.157s, ahead of Glen Richards aboard the second Hawk Kawasaki and fourth in the points Leon Haslam.

Rutter however is fully focussed on the job in hand and determined that he will be enjoying the victor's champagne - he goes into the races with a 46 points advantage over Gregorio Lavilla.

The Spanish rider struggled during qualifying, with his Airwaves Ducati thirteenth on the leaderboard, meaning a fourth row start, and a best lap some 1.1 seconds slower than Rutter.

John Reynolds, the defending champion, back in action after a two round absence to help the healing process of his right leg, broken in a pre-season testing crash, starts alongside his Rizla Suzuki team-mate Scott Smart on the fourth row of the grid.

James Buckingham was the best of the qualifiers for the British Superbike Cup, putting in a lap of 1m 21.624s aboard his Quay Garage Suzuki, managing to embarrass a number of factory riders also, as he posted the tenth best time overall.

ends