British Superbike championship favourite Leon Haslam leaves Almeria this afternoon knowing he is, for the moment, the fastest BSB rider after posting the quickest time in testing over the last three days.

However, the HM Plant Honda man was only three tenths faster than veteran Shane Byrne on the Airwave Ducati and Haslam’s team-mate Cal Crutchlow was snapping at both their heels.

“I have got to be happy with the time,” said Haslam. “It’s looking promising but I know it’s going to be a tough season. We has so much to get through in terms of set-up that we needed more time. We have been developing the electronics that Jonny and Kiyo had last year, and looking at some extras.

“Every time we came to any area that needed improvement, we made canges and went faster. The tyres have been good with good wear. We did have some chatter problems, as did everyone, but we found that was the tyre spinning on the rim.

“My aim has got to be to win the championship. I am confident and it’s good to end up quickest. But there is still a lot more to come from us, and from the other teams, so it’s going to be close. We have got to maximise the three days at Guadix.”

This year will be the first time Haslam has raced a four-cylinder superbike, having been on twins in the past, but he says the switch isn’t causing any sleepless nights.

“I have been playing around with the road bikes at the [Ron Haslam] race school and getting to know them in terms of spinning and sliding. I don’t think the switch is going to be too hard.”

Unofficial times from Almeria:

1: Leon Haslam (Honda) 1:36.4
2: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 1:36.7
3: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 1:36.8
4: Tom Sykes (SUZUKI) 1:37.3
5: Michael Rutter (Ducati) 1:37.7
6: Atsushi Watanabe (Suzuki) 1:37.9
7: Leon Camier (Ducati) 1:38.2