Ryuichi Kiyonari claimed that Knockhill was a difficult circuit to learn, but that did not prevent him breaking the three year old lap record during free practice for the double race seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

The 22 year old Japanese rider, who is third in the title stakes, was well on the pace throughout at the short, tight, 1.3 mile Fife circuit, despite taking a tumble without injury during the morning session.

His best came in the closing minutes the afternoon as he clocked a best lap of 49.953secs, an average speed of 93.58mph, and just inside the record set by late former champion and circuit favourite Steve Hislop.

“I put in many laps to gain experience - last year I did not ride well here, the weather was bad and I found the circuit hard to learn,” reflected Kiyonari who was running at best 0.269secs up on his series leading team-mate Michael Rutter who is also intent on ending a poor run in recent years at the circuit.

“This was not a particularly good event for me last year but we have done a lot of work since then and I know that I have to be in the top three of both races to maintain my title hopes,” Rutter explained.

Hondas dominated filling the top four places on the leaderboard. Red Bull Fireblade rider, Ulsterman Jonathan Rea, who suffered a broken femur in a crash during last year's event, continued his improving form and maturity in his Superbike `rookie' year by setting third best time, just ahead of Stobart Honda rider Michael Laverty.

Gregorio Lavilla, the Spanish rider aboard the Airwaves Ducati, who goes into these races bidding to make inroads into the 45 points by which he trails Rutter was fifth best in a time of 50.489secs ahead of Hawk Kawasaki duo Dean Thomas and Glen Richards who finished either side of Leon Haslam.

Defending champion John Reynolds was ninth fastest, two places up on his new Rizla Suzuki team-mate James Haydon, while Scott Smart on his debut with the Vivaldi Kawasaki team was sixteenth.

Danny Beaumont, riding the Team JJL Racing Honda, was the fastest of the British Superbike Cup riders, a third of a second up on James Buckingham and Marty Nutt.

ends