Michael Rutter might have the advantage in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title stakes but he is taking nothing for granted as he heads for the seventh round at the tight, demanding Knockhill circuit on Sunday 26 June.

The Scottish circuit hosts the double race seventh round with the HM Plant Honda rider intent on building on his 45 points advantage over the rest as he prepares for a strong, consistent second half of the season to ease towards maiden title glory.

"I quite enjoy the circuit and am looking forward to these races," smiled Rutter, adding "I just hope the conditions are favourable - either dry, or wet, when they are in between it is horrible for everyone." He took a pair of second placings last time out at Croft in the damp, but he is aiming for better this time.

"I have a comfortable lead at the moment, but both my team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari and Gregorio Lavilla are riding very well and pushing hard, so I need at least one race win in this round, and the season needs more victories amid consistent finishing."

Rutter does not have the best of pedigrees at the circuit which lies to the north of Dunfermline, but he is determined to add to his three race victories so far to keep at bay the stylish, hard riding Lavilla aboard the Airwaves Ducati who has won two of the previous three races.

Kiyonari has won six of the eight races that he has finished, and can be relied on to put in some fast lapping around the 1.2986 mile circuit, as he learns quickly and is content with nothing else than running out front.

However, much of the attention will be focused on the two riders who took the victories in the corresponding round last year: Scott Smart, then riding for Hawk Kawasaki, and James Haydon, then acting as 'super-sub' for the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha team.

Both have moved on, and in recent weeks been involved in more changes.
Smart, after a disappointing early season campaign has parted company with the Rizla Suzuki team, and then swiftly signed up to ride a third Vivaldi Kawasaki. Haydon, having deputised for Suzuki and Yamaha during the current campaign, has signed up to ride for the Rizla backed team for the remainder of the season.

Both riders will be keen to prove a point or two, and that should add to the front-running action, which is expected to again see challenges coming in from Aussie Glen Richards aboard the Hawk Kawasaki and the emerging threat of Leon Haslam on the second Airwaves Ducati.

Sean Emmett, having missed the previous round to undergo further treatment on his injured elbow, will be spearheading the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha challenge, alongside Tommy Hill, while defending champion John Reynolds, getting fitter and stronger by the day, as he recovers from the serious leg injuries suffered in a pre-season testing crash, intends to be back on podium form.

Gary Mason and Michael Laverty should continue their improving form aboard the Stobart Hondas, while Steve Plater needs a positive result aboard the Sendo Kawasaki.

In the race within a race for the British Superbike Cup, James Buckingham will be hard pressed to defend his slender three points advantage over Steve Brogan, with both Marty Nutt and Chris Martin keen to spoil their private duel for supremacy.

Around the two Superbike races, in which points are at stake in the continuing competition for the £30,000 Audi road car on offer for the best all-rounder in the Audi Performance Award, there is also a packed support race programme.

In the Metabo British Supersport Championship, Flying Scot Stuart Easton is hoping to make home advantage pay as he bids to regain that crown, there are rounds of the British 125cc Championship and the Virgin Mobile Cup and races counting to both the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship and Cup.