Michael Rutter, the leader of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, set the pace in free practice for the Holiday Monday double race fourth round at Oulton Park.

The HM Plant Honda rider put in a determined, fast final lap, to end the session with a time some 1.62 seconds faster than the rest.

Rutter, who had been on the pace during the rain-lashed morning session, upped the power of his Fireblade on a drying track to record a best time of 1m 42.384s around the 2.78 mile Cheshire circui, running at an average speed of 94.65mph.

He moved ahead in the title stakes with a winning double in the previous round at Mallory Park, in which his team-mate the then unbeaten Ryuichi Kiyonari crashed heavily at high speed.

The Japanese rider is still recovering from that and is unable to race, giving Rutter the opportunity to increase his 19 points lead. “It is a pity that Kiyo cannot race, but I have a job to do, and that is to get out there and score some serious points - a repeat of the winning double of last Sunday would be the ideal.”

Rutter will not have things all of his own way. Aussie Glen Richards is again looking good aboard the Hawk Kawasaki, and was ahead until Rutter's late charge. And, the Airwaves Ducati duo of Leon Haslam and Gregorio Lavilla are well dialled into the circuit.

Steve Brogan, the Liverpudlian riding the PR Branson Honda who leads the British Superbike Cup for independent riders, embarrassed a number of factory backed riders in practice, setting fifth best time and is intent of more of the same in the races.

He can expect a tough time. James Haydon, who has been drafted into the Rizla Suzuki team to deputise for their injured defending champion John Reynolds, has settled in quickly, to be running some two seconds faster than his team-mate Scott Smart.

Haydon, who lost his ride with the Airwaves team last week has a point to prove and that adds to his determination to taste the winner's champagne, although he could be hard pressed by Sean Emmett riding the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha who was eighth best, 1m 48.202s in practice.

The Laverty brothers. John aboard the Vitrans Honda and Michael on the Stobart Honda complete the top ten.

ends