Michael Rutter outpaced his HM Plant Honda team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari, the early season leader of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, during free practice for the double race second round at Thruxton on Sunday to underline his determination to put his title bid firmly back on track.

The Leicestershire based rider was the runner-up last season and is intent on going one better, though he is all too well aware of the in-team threat that he faces: “Without doubt Kyo is the biggest problem, but Thruxton was a good circuit for me last year, with a win and second place, so I am hoping to build on that and get my challenge for the title really going.

“I have worked hard with the team to find the optimum setting so I am confident that I can achieve more good results here,” smiled Rutter after setting the pace with a 1m 16.492s lap of the 2.356 mile Hampshire circuit.

But, there was no shaking off the threat of Kiyonari who closed within 0.133 seconds, again having put in more laps that any other rider: “that was necessary to help me prepare - last year this was not one of my favourite tracks. Michael is very fast and I know how much he wants to win but I am working very hard to achieve good results.”

Third on the leaderboard was Gregorio Lavilla, the 30 year old Spaniard who continues to deputise for the injured James Haydon aboard the Airwaves Ducati - he put in a lap of 1m 17.204s to head off Karl Harris, the former triple British Supersport Champion by 0.004seconds.

Leon Haslam, riding the second Airwaves Ducati, was comfortably on the pace, fifth fastest while Dean Thomas, the pole starter for the corresponding race last year was marginally slower aboard his Hawk Kawasaki, with Sean Emmett, Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha, and Scott Smart, Rizla Suzuki, just adrift.

Defending champion John Reynolds, again riding with his broken right leg protected both by a carbon fibre splint and a specially made boot, was back in fifteenth place with a best lap of 1m 18.220s.

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