Tommy Hill admitted he felt comfortable in the damp conditions after setting the fastest time in second practice on Friday at Knockhill.
The Swan Yamaha rider had already set the quickest time in the morning session with a 53.327 before going half a second quicker in the afternoon, putting him three tenths of a second ahead of Loris Baz who took an excellent second for Motorpoint Yamaha.
Hill was hugely encouraged by the start he had made to the weekend, and revealed that although his injured shoulder is still causing him slight discomfort, he isn't letting it disrupt his riding.
“It's been a good day, a good start and we've had to make very few changes to the bike – I'm feeling comfortable and we are going in the right direction,” explained Hill.
“My shoulder is OK, it is playing up a little, but if you want something and I want success in these races then you have to get on with the job. I am aware of the shoulder and its problems but I am not letting it bother me.
“You have to remember they said the healing time was six weeks, but that was six weeks of rest, not me training, testing and working, but I am not whingeing on about it. I keep telling myself you are up there at the top of the timesheets so that can't be bad.”
French teenager Baz was his closest challenger ahead of John Hopkins with Michael Laverty fourth on the second Swan Yamaha YZF-R1. Championship leader Shane 'Shakey' Byrne was fifth fastest, marginally ahead of Josh Brookes and teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari. Byrne added that it “had been fun, or as fun as it can be in the wet”, with similar conditions likely for qualifying.
Gary Mason was eighth for MSS Colchester Kawasaki ahead of Simon Andrews who led the EVO class on the Buy-Force.com PR Racing Kawasaki. Jon Kirkham completed the top ten.
