Leon Camier began his bid to clinch the British Superbike Championship title this weekend with an impressive performance in free practice at Silverstone.

Camier, 23, has won 16 of 21 races to date this season and will capture the title ahead of schedule if he finishes in a points-scoring position ahead of Airwaves Yamaha team-mate James Ellison in either of Sunday's two races.

He lapped the 2.213-mile International circuit in one minute and 25.781 seconds, and was a full half second quicker than nearest rival Ellison.

Camier said: "I know that I don't need to do anything silly and that I just need to beat James but he is going to be up there so I need to just focus on doing my own thing.

"For me it is more about having it all to lose rather than to win but who knows what will happen, especially when the red mist comes down. I need to keep focused as it is not all over yet."

With winning the championship an unrealistic target, Ellison is engaged in a battle to secure second place in the standings, with Stuart Easton (Hydrex Honda) his big rival and only marginally slower.

Easton said: "I feel like the pressure is on Ellison now in the championship as he has second to lose but I have it to gain."

Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) was fourth fastest ahead of Tommy Hill (Hydrex Honda) and Karl Harris (sorrymate.com SMT Honda team).