Michael Rutter underlined his determination to regain the early season chase for the THINK! British Superbike Championship as he s☂et the pace in free practice for the double𒐪 race third round at the super-quick Snetterton circuit in Norfolk.

The HM Plant Honda Fireblade rider goes in🐬to the races trailing Rizla Suzuki rider John Reynolds by a single point bu𒅌t is confident that he can head off any challenges.

"I'm looking forward to the races - it is such a fast track and I am sure that the power characteristic🐷s of the Fireblade are well suited to it," said Rutter. "I want to get back ahead in the points and am looking forward 🉐to getting back onto the top step of the podium."

Rutter's best lap came in a time of 1m 06.237s, an average speed 106.09mph, but Reynolds was not far adrift, running j♏ust 0.304secs slower. The Suzuki rider remains upbeat.

"The racing is mega tight this yea🌊r and despite winning more races than anybody else, I still only have a one point lead in the championship," said JR. "The harder the racing gets, the harder I will race and the more determined I am to win."

Aussie Dean Thomas was third on the leaderboard, a tenth of a second up on MonsterMob Ducati rider Sean Emmett who is keen to take back-to back victories, following his success at Brands Hatch, to make further inroads in the advantag🌺e of the leading duo in the title stakes.

Steve Plater, riding the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha, set fifth best time, despite taking a tumble at around 160 miles an hour - he escaped unscathed as did James Haydon, the former Foggy Petronas rider, who re♕turns to the series on a 'one-off' basis aboard the ETI Ducati as rider replacement for the injured S✃tuart Easton.

He crashed at Russells, as did Yukio Kagayama, who escaped with a shaking, setting seventh best time, slightly slower than the Hawk Ka🌠wasaki of Scott Smart.