Easton and Swan Honda set the pace at Oulton Park

Swan Honda's Stuart Easton set the early pace at Oulton Park today in the opening free practice sessions for the third round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.

Easton held the advantage for the majority of the second session this afternoon as the team made some radical changes to the lone Swan Honda to keep him ahead of his championship rivals.

Easton said: "It has been a good day for me and the team, so I am happy to finish the day fastest. The times haven't been that fast to be honest, but the main thing is to finish at the top and that is what we have achieved.

"We have done a lot of experimenting today and have made some really radical changes that have given us more rear grip and helped with steering through the faster corners, but obviously this has created some other things to react but I think we have got there now.

"The position of the bike has also been changed which has benefitted us and today we have only used a tyre per session so that shows we have more potential for tomorrow."