Michael Rutter might have the advantage in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title stakes but he is taking nothing for granted as he heads for the seventh round at the tight, demanding
Knockhill circuit on Sunday 26 June.
The Scottish circuit hosts the double race seventh round with the HM Plant Honda rider intent on building on his 45 points advantage over the rest as he prepares for a strong, consistent second half of the season to ease towards maiden title glory.
"I quite enjoy the circuit and am looking forward to these races," smiled Rutter, adding "I just hope the conditions are favourable - either dry, or wet, when they are in between it is horrible for everyone." He took a pair of second placings last time out at
Croft in the damp, but he is aiming for better this time.
"I have a comfortable lead at the moment, but both my team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari and Gregorio Lavilla are riding very well and pushing hard, so I need at least one race win in this round, and the season needs more victories amid consistent finishing."
Rutter does not have the best of pedigrees at the circuit which lies to the north of Dunfermline, but he is determined to add to his three race victories so far to keep at bay the stylish, hard riding Lavilla aboard the Airwaves Ducati who has won two of the previous three races.
Kiyonari has won six of the eight races that he has finished, and can be relied on to put in some fast lapping around the 1.2986 mile circuit, as he learns quickly and is content with nothing else than running out front.
However, much of the attention will be focused on the two riders who took the victories in the corresponding round last year: Scott Smart, then riding for Hawk Kawasaki, and James Haydon, then acting as 'super-sub' for the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha team.
