Reynolds struggles with injury while Honda and Ducati lead the way in first practice at Brands

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.

In the support classes Leon Camier was fastest in Supersport while Australia's Paul Young sits atop of the 1,000cc Superstock practice sheets with South Australia's Dave Johnson 11th and fellow Aussie Rory Rock in 22nd. Australia's sole entrant in the 125cc ranks Queenslander Matthew Kuhne was 13th quickest on Friday.

Superbike Practice

Rutter 1m16.49
Kiyonari 1m16.62
Lavilla 1m17.20
Harris 1m17.20
Haslam 1m17.26
Thomas 1m17.28
Emmett 1m17.44
Smart 1m17.46
Richards 1m17.54
Hill 1m17.57

Supersport Practice

Camier 1m18.75
Easton 1m18.97
Sykes 1m19.34
Andrews 1m19.84
Crutchlow 1m19.89
Laverty 1m19.98
Vincent 1m20.23
Riba 1m20.24
Young 1m20.26
Robinson 1m20.52

Superstock 1,000cc

Young 1m19.64
Mainwaring 1m19.96
Fitzpatrick 1m20.03
Coates 1m20.06
Rainey 1m20.39
Tinsley 1m20.40
Neill 1m20.49
Hutchinson 1m20.52
Jackson 1m20.56
Bridewell 1m20.69
Johnson 1m20.70