Leon Haslam powered to pole start for the Holiday Monday eleventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with the fastest ever two-wheeled lap of the Cadwell Park circuit.

The Airwaves Ducati rider headed off the challenge of his team-mate and title rival Gregorio Lavilla by almost a third of a second as he held the upperhand in a high speed `shoot-out' for supremacy, twice hitting back after the Spaniard had posted a super-quick lap.

Haslam clinched his fourth pole start, at the same time extending his advantage in the Audi Performance Award standings, with a 1m 26.392secs lap of the 2.18 mile Lincolnshire circuit, at an average speed of 90.84mph - the 22 year old Derbyshire rider was some 1.7 seconds inside the previous best, and almost a second better than the pole record.

“That is the first part of the job completed,” smiled Haslam. “Now we want another one-two finish in the races, with me taking a winning double. After winning last time out, I want more, and am feeling good and confident, enjoying riding the circuit.”

He goes into these races trailing Ryuichi Kiyonari, the HM Plant Honda rider, by three points, while Haslam holds a 15 points advantage over the reigning champion Gregorio Lavilla. “I want the title, that's for sure, and that means I have to be ahead of both of them. The bike is superb round here, and I am up for the challenge,” added Haslam.

Lavilla is back to form, putting in a series of strong consistent lap, the best of which was in a time of 1m 26.683secs, and having taken a pair of seconds in the corresponding round of last year is feeling confident that he can be running out front.

There are no team orders, except that the Ducati equipe expects to beat the Honda threat, and the team based at nearby Louth face a tough time in these races. Karl Harris, who took a bruising in a heavy tumble during the morning session, bounced back to set fifth best time, while Kiyonari was having a tough time on a circuit that he cares little for.

The 23 year old Japanese rider also starts from the second row of the grid, seventh fastest, with a his best lap of 1m 27.636secs some 1.244seconds down on Haslam as he prepares for races in which he really needs to add to his eight race winning pedigree.

Ahead of Harris, a late charge by former champion Shane Byrne put his Rizla Suzuki onto the front row, third fastest, 1m 27.040secs, marginally faster than the Virgin Mobile Yamaha ridden by Tommy Hill, who enjoyed maiden race winning glory here last year.

Jonathan Rea, aboard the Red Bull Honda, is sandwiched in between the two HM Plant bikes on a second row completed by Michael Rutter aboard the Stobart Honda, while local favourite Steve Plater set ninth best time as he continues to deputise aboard the Rizla Suzuki for the injured James Haydon.

Michael Laverty, aboard the second Stobart bike completes the top ten, while Michael Howarth, riding the MAR Kawasaki, topped the British Superbike Cup qualifiers, ahead of Howie Mainwaring riding the Mark Johns Motors Honda.

ends