Leon Haslam set the free practice pace ahead of the double race eleventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park where the title chasing trio of Gregorio Lavilla, Michael Rutter and Ryuichi Kiyonari had fluctuating fortunes.

Riding the Airwaves Ducati, Haslam was always on the pace, but he saved the best for last, putting in two consistently fast laps on the drying Cheshire circuit, at the end of the afternoon session to line himself up for a repeat of his success of earlier in the season.

“I enjoy the circuit and proved that by winning here - I was quick in both races and could easily have won them both then. I am feeling very comfortable on the bike, am performing well and will be pushing for race wins,” said Haslam, who is currently fourth in the rankings, but out of the title chase.

His late speed, with a best lap of 1m 37.344secs, an average speed of 99.55mph, headed off the determined challenge of former three times British Supersport Champion Karl Harris by almost half a second, with Rutter, the fastest of the three in contention for the crown, third fastest.

The HM Plant Honda rider goes into these races determined to overturn the two points deficit he has on Lavilla. Rutter, who lost the lead with a tumble in the Holiday Monday round at Cadwell Park, is approaching these races as though they are the start of a new campaign.

“There is everything to play for - I need to treat the rest of the season as a new one and concentrate on making sure that I am back up front in every race to regain the lead in the title,” said Rutter.

Gary Mason, Stobart Honda, and reigning champion John Reynolds, on the Rizla Suzuki, were only marginally slower than Rutter on a day of struggle for the exciting 22 year old Japanese rider Ryuichi Kiyonari, who was outgunned also by James Haydon, Tommy Hill - a winner at Cadwell Park, Dean Thomas and Steve Plater.

Kiyonari, seven points down on Rutter, found himself back in eleventh place, with a best lap of 1m 38.879s, commenting: “this is the most difficult part of the season for me - Michael is strong here and will be hard to beat but I will be trying hard.”

Sean Emmett nosed ahead his Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha ahead of Lavilla, who had to settle for a distant thirteenth on the leaderboard - he concentrated on both learning the circuit, and ensuring his Ducati is well set for the races, as he adopts a similar strategy to that of Rutter.

“It is of course good to be ahead, but it is by only two points - I am not thinking of the championship. I did well here earlier in the season, but these final rounds are like starting from zero and we will all be trying our hardest,” said Lavilla.

British Superbike Cup contenders Steve Brogan and James Buckingham came close to matching the Spaniard's best time.

ends