Michael Rutter powered to pole start for the Holiday Monday double race fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at record busting pace at Oulton Park as he underlined his determination to tighten his grip in the title stakes.

The HM Plant Honda rider had been pressurised by Aussie Dean Thomas, riding the Hawk Kawasaki, but he hit back decisively with a stunning lap of the Cheshire circuit.

“Pole is great, but equally importantly, I know that the bike is well set for the races,” smiled Rutter after his 1m 36.436s lap, which smashed some three quarters of a second off the record.

He goes into the race intent on building the 19 points advantage he holds, and with his nearest rival, team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari missing these races, having taken a battering in a high speed crash during the previous round, Rutter should be in a strong position.

“It is shame that Kiyo is not here, I would have liked to have beaten him fair and square, but, I have to get on with the job and get the results,” Rutter added. “I have to score serious points in these races, and a repeat of my winning double at Mallory Park would be perfect.”

But, nothing will be easy for him. He can expect Thomas to push him hard - the Australian has been riding strongly and consistently, and was marginally faster in the first qualifying session.

“It all feels good, but now I have to do it in the races,” said Thomas whose teamster Glen Richards was fourth fastest, and starting alongside Airwaves Ducati rider Leon Haslam who is intent on building on his top three finish of last time out.

“I was pleased with the results last week, and I'm hopeful of taking my first victory of the season here, a circuit that I have always liked,” reflected Haslam.

Karl Harris, the three times British Supersport Champion, heads up the second row, ahead of the rejuvenated Gary Mason on the Stobart Honda and James Haydon who, deputising for Rizla Suzuki's injured champion John Reynolds, is at ease with the bike as he prepares for races in which he has point or two to prove.

Haydon `stood-down' from the Airwaves team prior to the Mallory Park round and is now intent on heading off the challenge of Gregorio Lavilla, the Spanish rider who replaced him.

Lavilla was ninth fastest, just down on Vitrans Honda rider John Laverty, but ahead of Scott Smart on the second Rizla Suzuki, with James Buckingham, twelfth on the leaderboard, heading the British Superbike Cup qualifiers.

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