Leon Haslam and Shane Byrne jointly topped the free practice leaderboard ahead of the eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the short, but challenging Knockhill circuit in Fife.
In a fast, and frantic session, just 0.008 seconds separated the top four riders, with Tom Sykes and Cal Crutchlow continuing their recent strong form as they closed in on the leading duo in an afternoon session in which the top ten riders were little more than half a second apart.
HM Plant Honda rider Haslam, who had his first victory at this circuit, is keen that he should end a 16 race drought since he last tasted champagne: "I'm still desperately chasing my first win this year, but I'm confident it will come as we've been pretty consistent of late, battling for the podium positions in the races."
He put in a lap of 49.004secs, 93.39mph, to match the time of the runaway series leader Byrne who had beaten him, just, in the morning session, with the Airwaves Ducati rider keen to return to winning ways after recording his worst results of the current campaign, a pair of thirds, last time out at Oulton Park.
"I came away from the last round quite frustrated as I really wanted to get another win," said Byrne, the winner of eight races so far, who continued: "I've been training really hard over the past couple of weeks so I'm feeling in great shape. That is going to be really important over these last few rounds of the championship."
Tom Sykes, fresh from his 'wild-card' appearance in the World series, but now focussed on matching his double winning form of the previous British round, ran third fastest aboard his Rizla Suzuki ahead of Crutchlow who has double purpose here.
The Coventry rider, who needs strong results to reduce the 99 points deficit he has on Byrne, is also planning his own special tribute to Craig Jones who died earlier this week after a heavy crash during last Sunday's World Supersport race.
"I will be wearing one of his actual helmets that he wore this season for the races and I'll be proud to do so and I hope my results will make him proud of me. I'm so fired up for this weekend. I want wins – nothing else," said Crutchlow.
Michael Laverty was fifth fastest for Relentless Suzuki ahead of Mallory Park race winner Michael Rutter, riding North West 200 Ducati, with Leon Camier, on the second Airwaves Ducati and MSS Discovery Kawasaki's Billy McConnell who will have a new Superbike team-mate for this round.
Former Supersport champion Stuart Easton returned to the MSS equipe but after completing a dozen laps during the morning session, the Scot decided he could not continue as his right wrist, broken during the Snetterton round, was too weak to enable him to ride competitively - he was replaced in the afternoon by Steve Mercer, the team's Superstock rider, who took time to adjust, with a best lap of 51.216secs.
Gary Mason, riding the Quay Garage Honda, looks set to capitalise on the absence of Daily Star Cup points leader John Laverty from this round - the Ulsterman high-sided heavily from his Buildbase NW200 Ducati during the first session, suffering concussion and rib injuries.
Mason ran fastest, 49.758secs, to be twelfth overall, and only marginally down on main championship runners Scott Smart, Karl Harris and Tristan Palmer.
In the Cup stakes, Kenny Gilbertson, riding the Astro Kawasaki, was a full second, and eight grid places, down on Mason, with Chris Burns, despite an earlier tumble from his STP MV Agusta, and Martin Jessopp, Riders Honda, marginally slower.
Top ten riders - Friday free practice: 1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 49.004s
2. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.000s
3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.002s
4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +0.008s
5. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 0.193s
6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +0.317s
7. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +0.324s
8. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +0.396s
9. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +0.494S
10. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +0.537s
Superbikes on track
Saturday 9th August 1000-1050 Free practice
1430-1520 Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole grid deciding session
Sunday 10th August 0920-0935 Warm-up practice
13.00 Race one - 30 laps
15.30 Race two - 30 laps
