Rutter goes quickest in Donington practice

Michael Rutter has gone into provisional pole position after Friday’s first qualifying at Donington Park ahead of Sunday’s BSB round.

Rutter pushed his Ducati 998 around the Indy circuit in a time of 1:09.30. He led Series leader Steve Hislop on the MonsterMob Ducati by two-tenths, but afterwards Rutter told MCN he still wasn’t satisfied.

He said: ” It’s getting better, but it’s still a case of going well in qualifying and then finding out something’s lacking in the race.

” We’re still finding our way, but we’re getting there. ”

Hislop was happier with his performance, despite the blustery conditions. He said: ” I’m happy with that. It was getting dangerous out there, I was nearly blown over coming out of Coppice. ”

Dean Thomas was the surprise package in third, the Phones 4U rider posting a 1:10.06 ahead of IFC Racing’s Sean Emmett and Rutter’s Renegade Racing team mate Shane Byrne in fifth. Defending champion John Reynolds was sixth.