Jonathan Rea topped the free practice leaderboard ahead of Sunday’s double race second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park.

The Red Bull Honda rider lapped consistently quickly throughout both sessions, eclipsed in the closing stages of the morning by the defending champion Gregorio Lavilla but powering back to head the action during the afternoon.

The 18 year old Ballyclare rider put in a best lap of the 2.5 mile Leicestershire Grand Prix circuit in time of 1m 32.331secs, 97.47mph to head off the late, determined challenge from Sheffield’s Karl Harris, riding the HM Plant Honda.

The former three times British Supersport Champion has settled quickly to the factory HRC Fireblade and is determined to enjoy maiden success in the top flight this weekend, but, despite being only 0.010secs down on Rea, he faces tough challenges.

Gregorio Lavilla, the reigning champion, who moved closer to sealing his first major title with a winning double at the circuit in last year’s penultimate round, was third fastest on the Airwaves Ducati – meticulous in his preparation, the Spaniard was lapping in a best time of 1m 32.529secs, just ahead of Michael Rutter aboard the Stobart Motorsport Honda.

Ryuichi Kiyonari, last year’s runner-up, was fifth best with a lap of 1m 32.855secs, and he is playing early-season catch-up on Lavilla, going into these races trailing him by three points in the title stakes.

Another rider in need of a solid points haul is the former champion Shane Byrne, who is back on the domestic scene after two tough years in MotoGP. Since the Brands Hatch races, he and team-mate James Haydon have tested their Rizla Suzukis intensively, and that work is paying dividends.

Byrne ran sixth fastest, Haydon eighth, with local favourite Leon Haslam sandwiched between them. The Airwaves Ducati rider is powering through the pain barrier of a dislocated right ankle and cracked fibula, the aftermath of a heavy, high-speed first race crash.

The determined Derbyshire rider was not allowing that to get in his way as he enjoyed a best lap of 1m 33.142s, 96.62mph and he is confident that his times will improve in Saturday’s 50 minute grid deciding session.

Also hoping for improvement are Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda), Glen Richards (Hydrex Honda) and Dean Thomas aboard the Hawk Kawasaki, who completed the top ten on the leaderboard.

Chris Martin, the former British 125cc Champion, was the fastest of the British Superbike Cup contenders – the York rider lapping aboard his PR Branson Honda in 1m 34.922secs, almost a second faster than Marty Nutt with the defending champion James Buckingham, having switched to riding a Honda Fireblade, third best.