The Flying Scot showed his total mastery of the Leicestershire Grand Prix circuit through qualifying, going faster in the first session than even the best of World MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi.

Hislop lapped in a time of 1m 31.457s, an average speed of 98.40mph and a little more than a tenth of a second than the illustrious Italian. He maintained the pace as he blasted a warning to his nearest rival for the crown, Sean Emmett, that he means big business in the two 20 lap races.

Michael Rutter, currently lying third in the points has set a tough target for Hislop in the one lap against the clock grid decider, he lapped in a time of 1m 32.025s, but the 40 year old Scot who has a comfortable 37 points lead in the title chase responded brilliantly.

The MonsterMob Ducati rider lapped in 1m 31.627s: "I've felt good from the start of practice on Friday - everything is in place and I am determined to prove a point or two here. I intend to be a worthy Champion." said Hislop who previously won the crown in 1995.

Shane Byrne, Rutter's Renegade Ducati team-mate, was third fastest with the front row completed by the out-going champion, John Reynolds, aboard the Rizla Suzuki. Second place Emmett had to settle for fifth best with a lap time of 1m 32.965s, to start from the second row of the grid.