Michael Rutter enjoyed the most productive time during a weather affected test-day at Oulton Park. The HM Plant Honda rider was able to put in a series of consistent, meaningful laps at the Cheshire circuit which hosts the double race fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on Monday 2 May.

During the morning session, he put in 14 laps, the best of which saw him cover the 2.692 miles in 1m 39.481s, an average speed of 97.41mph, and importantly for the rider who twice has been the runner-up in the series, he was running 0.908 seconds ahead of his team-mate, Ryuichi Kiyonari.

The 22 year old Japanese rider has won all four races so far this season, extending to six his unbeaten record which stretches back to the final round of last year, again proved industrious, putting in 22 laps in the hour long session, more than anyone else.

Karl Harris, the three times former British Supersport Champion, closed in Rutter, taking his Honda-Racing.Co.UK Fireblade to a lap of 1m 39.635s, a split second ahead of Dean Thomas and his Hawk Kawasaki team-mate Glen Richards.

Scott Smart, riding the Rizla Suzuki, was sixth fastest of the 23 riders participating, recording a best lap of 1m 40.824s, just ahead of his team-mate John Reynolds, the defending champion who is riding on, though still nursing a right leg that was broken in five places during a pre-season crash during testing.

Jon Kirkham lapped his Sendo Kawasaki in a best time of 1m 41.083s, ahead of second round British Superbike Cup race winner Steve Brogan who was fastest overall in the afternoon wet session aboard his PR Branson Honda.

Further down the pack, there was again a time of struggle for former Grand Prix rider Jeremy McWilliams, who put in a dozen laps during the morning, with a best time of 1m 44.415s, leaving his Stobart Honda seventeenth on the leaderboard.

The dismal conditions in the afternoon brought little activity on track, with Smart rueing his decision to go out as he tumbled, without injury, at Druids.  

ends