Cal Crutchlow, who enjoyed maiden race winning glory in the previous round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, carried that form and pace through free practice ahead of the Holiday Monday third round at Oulton Park.
The HM Plant Honda rider put in a best lap of 1m 36.596secs, an average speed of 100.32mph, around the 2.692mile Cheshire circuit, heading off the determined challenge of his team-mate Leon Haslam by 0.151secs.
Crutchlow, who jointly leads the early season title chase with Shane Byrne, was delighted with his continuing progress: “We’ve tried one or two things and have made a big positive step forward. There are still a few things to test but the bike is handling well.
“My lap times have been consistent, and already I feel that we have a good race pace – we’ve had two very good sessions and I am feeling confident about these races.
“That first victory at Thruxton was a big milestone for me, but now I have to work hard for more and around me I have a team that is geared to winning races and the title,” added the 22 year old Coventry rider.
Byrne will, without doubt, have a big say in the outcome of these races – the former holder of the crown had been half a second faster, aboard his Airwaves Ducati, than Crutchlow in the morning session, but he was unable to improve on that lap of 1m 37.023secs, and that enable the Honda rider to turn the tables on him.
Tom Sykes set fourth best time for Rizla Suzuki to ease Michael Rutter, twice third at Thruxton, back into fifth place – the NorthWest 200 Ducati rider had lapped in 1m 37.618secs. Leon Camier closed within a tenth of him, with Karl Harris, still bruised and sore from his crash of the previous round, setting seventh best time for the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha team, half a second clear of Simon Andrew riding Jentin Lloyds British Yamaha.
Stuart Easton was the fastest of the Kawasaki riders, with a time of 1m 38.597secs, aboard the MSS Discovery bike, while James Ellison completed the top ten for the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda team with Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki) and Billy McConnell on the second MSS bike tucked in behind.
Tom Grant marked his Superbike debut with SMT Honda team by posting thirteenth best time, 1m 39.134secs.
John Laverty, the double Daily Star Cup winner at Thruxton, looks set for an action replay, recording the best time in this category, 1m 39.463secs, aboard the BuildbaseNW200 Ducati, though former Cup winner James Buckingham closed his Quay Garaga Honda within a tenth of a second. Luke Quigley, riding PDM Suzuki, is also on the pace, just ahead of STP MV Agusta rider Chris Burns.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, free practice:
1. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 1m:36.596
2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +0.151s
3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.448s
4. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.748s
5. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +1.022s
6. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +1.197s
7. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +1.245s
8. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha) +1.782s
9. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +2.001s
10. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +2.170s
Superbikes on track:
Sunday 4th May
12.10 - 13.00 free practice,
15.05 – 15.55 Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole grid deciding qualifying
Monday 5th May
09.05 – 09.20 warm-up practice
13.00 Bennetts British Superbike Race One – 18 laps
15.30 Bennetts British Superbike Race Two – 18 laps
