Ryuichi Kiyonari shattered the Silverstone lap record during testing ahead the of the penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to be held at the Northamptonshire circuit on Sunday 17 September.

The HM Plant Honda rider, who is currently third in the title chase, made good use of the available track time, putting in a best lap of the 2.213mile International circuit in 1m 25.8secs, some three quarters of a second inside the race record and also a third of a second better than his own pole time for last year's races.

Kiyonari made his British racing debut at the circuit at the start of the 2004 campaign, and now in his third year is determined to become the first Japanese rider to win the crown, but, he goes into the final stages 26 points down on series leading Leon Haslam.

The 23 year old Honda rider ran two tenths of a second faster than his team-mate Karl Harris, who is keen to enjoy maiden glory in the Superbike class, while teenager Ulsterman Jonathan Rea continued to impress aboard the Red Bull Honda, with a best lap of 1m 26.4secs.

That kept him a third of a second clear of former champion Shane Byrne, riding the Rizla Suzuki, who was re-united on track with James Haydon who made a return to action after suffering serious injuries in a heavy crash during the Snetterton round in June.

Haydon was not too concerned that his best lap was 1m 28.7secs: “This test has been all about getting back on a bike and easing myself in gently. You forget just how quick a Superbike is and rather than pushing myself too early, I decided to take my time and get to know the bike again. I got quicker as the day progressed and I am delighted that I will be returning to race here next week. My comeback has officially started."

The championship leading duo of Haslam and Gregorio Lavilla did not participate in these official tests.

Eugene Laverty, the Red Bull Honda rider, set the pace among the leading competitors in the British Supersport Championship - the title is out of reach, but he has promised to win all of the remaining races and his lap of 1m 28.8secs, just inside the record, underlined that resolve.

Cal Crutchlow, the champion elect, aboard the Northpoint Ekerold Honda lapped in a time of 1m 29.2secs, a time that was matched by his TAS Suzuki rival Tom Sykes.

ends