Ryuichi Kiyonari might have taken a tumble during free practice for the penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship but he bounced back to head the free practice leaderboard at Donington Park.

The HM Plant Honda rider, who goes into these races defending a single point lead over Gregorio Lavilla, had set the pace during the rain-soaked morning session, and was again dominating on a drying track in the afternoon, but he tangled with Hawk Kawasaki rider Glen Richards at Goddards.

Both went down, but were unharmed and quickly back out on track, with the 22 year old Japanese rider locked in a fast moving duel for supremacy. It seemed that his team-mate Michael Rutter, currently third in the rankings, had the measure of him, with a super-fast lap in the closing stages, but Kiyonari hit back at the last possible moment.

He put in a lap of 1m 34.166secs, 95.57mph, around the 2.5 mile Leicestershire circuit to head off Rutter by 0.032seconds. “I am happy - we have a good set-up for the bike and I hope to win both races here. I have good memories of the circuit having won twice here last year.

“The championship is very close so it is important for me to finish both races,” said Kiyonari who has chalked up a dozen victories so far, the most recent coming by inches last time out at Oulton Park as he won a dash to the line ahead of Lavilla to grab the initiative in the title stakes.

The Airwaves Ducati rider, who slid off at Craner Curves during the morning, is well on the pace, ending the day fourth fastest, just adrift of Honda's former triple British Supersport Champion Karl Harris.

Lavilla is taking the races as they come: “I feel no extra pressure and I feel comfortable on the bike at the moment. I like this circuit and will be concentrating on challenging for race wins. Hopefully I will finish ahead of Kiyonari in both of them.”

Rutter however could upset the leading duo's private scrap. He needs to win both races to rescue his title bid. The Leicestershire based rider has been runner-up twice in the past three years and was leading until a string off ill-luck saw him tip off three times in as many rounds.

“”After the last few races I'm hoping for a change of fortune and get me season back on track with a return to winning ways.” He has to peg back a 36 points deficit with just four races remaining.

Richards will be pressing hard, as will Tommy Hill, riding the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha, who is eager to add to his recent victory at Cadwell Park while defending champion John Reynolds, aboard the Rizla Suzuki is little more than three quarters of a second down on Kiyonari.

Scott Smart, returning from injury, posted eighth best time for Vivaldi Kawasaki, running just ahead of Hydrex Honda's Steve Plater, while local favourite Leon Haslam completes the top ten.

James Buckingham, already assured of the British Superbike Cup, ran off the pace, while Steve Brogan, riding the PR Branson Honda, fourteenth overall, headed that privateers classification.

ends.