Michael Rutter claimed pole start for the double race second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Thruxton to underline his determination to put his title challenge back on track.

The HM Plant Honda rider shrugged aside the gusting wind at the open, high-speed Hampshire circuit, putting in a best lap of 1m 15.601s to beat off the determined challenge of Leon Haslam aboard the Airwaves Ducati.

“I needed that, and I'm pleased to be on pole - the races will be one hell of scrap with the riders seven or eight abreast around here but I am ready for it and intend that these races will get me back on track for the title.

“Last year I had good results here, a win and a second place, and I want to do at least that again,” said Rutter, whose team-mate, the series leader Ryuichi Kiyonari took a bruising as he crashed at 120 miles an hour at Allards - the double winner at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday injured his left ankle and will have overnight treatment.

The Japanese rider qualified fifth fastest, just adrift of both Sean Emmett aboard the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha and Honda's Karl Harris.

Hawk Kawasaki rider Glen Richards set sixth best time in an afternoon session that saw several riders take a tumble in the blustery conditions. The most spectacular was the high-side at the chicane of Gregorio Lavilla, again deputising aboard the Airwaves Ducati for the injured James Hayden - the 30 year old Spaniard escaped injury, and starts from seventh place on the grid as he bids to strengthen his second place in the title stakes.

Defending champion John Reynolds, continuing his damage limitation exercise, as he rides with his broken right leg in a protective cast and specially made boot, was back in seventeenth place on the Rizla Suzuki, but still two places up on former MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams riding the Stobart Honda.

James Buckingham, riding the Quay Garage Suzuki, was the fastest qualifier for the British Superbike Cup, but only 0.055 secs ahead of Danny Beaumont on the JJL Honda and PR Branson Honda's Steve Brogan.

ends