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 pressured 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.

HM Plant Honda Report

Michael Rutter has signalled a warning to the opposition that he intends to retain – and extend – his 19-point lead in the 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend at Oulton Park. The 31-year-old powered the HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade into pole position at the 2.692-mile Cheshire circuit with a best time of 1:36.436.

Leicestershire rider Rutter was almost half a second faster than his closest rival over the day’s two qualifying sessions in warm, dry conditions. It is the HM Plant Honda Racing rider’s second pole position of the season and third front row start.

Last year’s visits to the circuit brought four podium finishes for Rutter with two third and two second place finishes. However, he is aiming to go one better in tomorrow’s race with a double victory for the HRC-supported team.

Team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari has been withdrawn from racing at Oulton Park this weekend by the HM Plant Honda Racing team. This is a precautionary measure following the 21-year-old’s accident at Mallory Park last weekend. It has already been confirmed that the Japanese rider will return to racing at Mondello Park for round five of the series.

Michael Rutter: “It’s a shame that Kiyo won’t be racing here this weekend, but he has been my main threat all season, so this is obviously the perfect opportunity for me to extend my championship advantage for the team as well as myself. I’m happy to be on pole and I’m aiming to get a good start in both races to help me reach the top step of the podium tomorrow. With six HM Plant Honda Racing wins from six starts the pressure’s on!”

Rizla Suzuki Report

James Haydon will start from seventh on the second row and Scott Smart from 10th on the third row of the grid for Rizla Suzuki in tomorrow's fourth round of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park.

With just four minutes to go, qualifying was red-flagged to clear debris from the 2.69-mile long circuit. When the session restarted in a frantic two-lap dash to determine the grid, the Rizla Suzuki riders both improved their lap times despite being caught in heavy traffic. In warm and dry conditions, Honda's Michael Rutter took pole position.

Racing at the fourth round of the British Superbike Championship takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2nd, at Oulton Park in Cheshire. It will be shown live on Sky Sports with a follow-up highlights package shown on Channel 4 the following Sunday.

James Haydon: "In the last four minutes of qualifying I got behind another rider and was on for a couple of fast laps - but for some reason he slowed up in the chicane and that took the edge off my times. I still managed my best lap right at the end but think I could have gone faster if the track was clear in front of me.

"I'm delighted though. It's now all about the start tomorrow and the second row is a good place to be. If I can get off the line cleanly, I think we have a race package to compete with the front-runners. I'm comfortable, the GSX-R1000 is a strong bike and it's great to be back racing again, I'm loving every minute of it!"

Scott Smart: "The final four minutes of qualifying felt a bit like a race and despite the traffic, I posted my fastest lap. I will be concentrating on getting good starts tomorrow and if I can get away with the leaders, I have the pace to stay with them and hopefully use the Suzuki's horsepower to work my way up the leader board.

"I have been suffering with a cold today - since Wednesday if I am honest. I am not sleeping well and that is not helping me get the best out of my Rizla Suzuki. If I can get a good night's sleep, I'll be in a much better position tomorrow and ready to attack."

John Reynolds: "Watching qualifying from the pit wall is extremely exciting and something I don't get to do very often. The last four minutes were just mayhem with traffic on track and both Rizla Suzuki riders did well to be so quick right at the end.

"James is doing a fantastic job on my Rizla Suzuki. He's settling in well and although he's a bit rusty because he hasn't been riding since the pre-season, he has been getting faster and faster and has a very good race set-up. If he gets a good start in the races, he'll be in the reckoning.

"Scott is suffering from a cold and is not his usual chirpy, aggressive self. If he is feeling better tomorrow you can expect fireworks as he is quick on race rubber and not frightened to overtake."

Karl Harris

Dean Thomas

"I've had a really good day today and was in Pole Position in the first qualifying session but dropped back into second position in the second session which I'm still over the moon about but Rutter got the better of me. I've got a really good race set up that I am really happy about and doing consistent race times which is the main thing. I've got another front row start, which shows we are really moving in the right direction and that I'm not finally getting used to riding the Hawk Kawasaki. I was holding on to Pole for ages but had a feeling that Mr Rutter would find the extra time somewhere.

"The second session was red flagged with four minutes to go but I still had enough time to do a qualifying lap but gave a tow to Karl Harris and brought him nicely up the field. I'm just hoping that it stays dry tomorrow as I think we could have a really good day, I'm feeling confident and really happy with the set up of the bike. I was suffering with a few of chatter problems at Druids but every where else it felt great so I can't complain. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will stay fine and that all things will run smoothly tomorrow. The crowd looks set to be massive so it should be a good day all in all, I'll keep you posted."

Aussie Update

Two Australians on the front row in Superbike with Dean Thomas and Glen Richards looking quick on their Kawasakis.  Paul Young is on the second row of the Supersport grid and on the front row of the 1,000cc Superstock grid.  Dave Johnson is 6th on the 1,000cc Superstock grid and Damian Cudlin is 18th.  Billy McConnell has pole for the Virgin Yamaha R6 Cup and fellow Aussie and round three winner Brendan Roberts is also on the front row.  Matthew Kuhne has qualified 22nd in the 125 GP ranks.