Ryuichi Kiyonari shrugged aside the painful memories of his previous visit to Mallory Park to top the free practice leaderboard ahead of the sixth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the short, but demanding 1.41 mile Leicestershire circuit.

The 23 year old Japanese rider is intent on setting the record straight, and in the process kick-starting his challenge for the crown which has faltered recently after a bright start to the campaign.

Kiyonari is third in the standings, and playing catch-up, but, the HM Plant Honda rider is determined to rectify matters by returning to winning ways: “My bike is running very well here, and now, must win.

“Last year here was very disappointing for me. Big crash and had to miss the next four races, losing many valuable championship points. Not happen again.”

Kiyonari is determined to break the dominance of the Airwaves Ducatis. Their defending champion, Gregorio Lavilla, has opened up a commanding lead in the title stakes, and is again running well on the pace, recording a 56.677secs lap, of the re-configured circuit, which features a new chicane on the exit of Gerrards.

And, Leon Haslam was even faster, closing in on Kiyonari with a time of 56.278secs, to edge the locally based Michael Rutter – he lives adjacent to the circuit – into third place, but by only a tenth of a second.

If Kiyonari has been given a ‘hurry-up’ call by his team, that is also the case of Rutter who has not tasted the winner’s champagne for almost a year. He enjoyed a winning double here last term, and is anxious for an action replay this time around to boost his hopes of delivering the title for his Stobart Motorsport Honda team.

Rutter lapped in 56.381secs, marginally faster than Karl Harris, riding the second HM Plant Honda with Jonathan Rea, aboard the Red Bull Honda, fifth, but within half a second of Kiyonari.

Michael Laverty, former champion Shane Byrne, and the two Vivaldi Suzuki riders Scott Smart and Ben Wilson completed the top ten with the Australians Billy McConnell, the fastest of the Virgin Mobile Yamaha riders, and Dean Thomas, riding the Hawk Kawasaki, just adrift.

James Buckingham, the defending British Superbike Cup winner, and current championship leader, set the standard again, with a 57.224secs lap, running sixteenth overall, and some 0.7seconds ahead of Chris Martin, Gareth Glynn and Marty Nutt.

James Haydon, who crashed heavily at Gerrards, having posted thirteenth best time, was referred to Leicester Royal Infirmary for further treatment to arm injuries, while Kieran Clarke, who slid off at Devils Elbow escaped with a bruising.