JOHN Reynolds is determined to be out in front when the Bennetts British Superbike circus comes to Croft next week, if only so he doesn't have to put his body through any punishing overtaking manoeuvres.

The reigning champion returned to the track this week for the first time in a month after suffering a broken leg in pre-season testing in Spain.

After undergoing surgery Reynolds opened his title defence but he struggled to make an impact, due in part to having to wear a special cast over the injured leg. Doctors advised him to take a complete rest and it wasn't until Tuesday, during an official test at Croft for the sixth round of the series on June 5, that he got to ride in anger once again.

Despite the lay-off he was less than a second off the pace of the day's quickest rider.

"This is the first time back since Rizla Suzuki pulled me off the bike four weeks ago," Reynolds told EchoSPORT. "I really wasn't doing the job that I am paid to do.

"What they decided to do was rest me, get me fully fit and have another attack (at the series) towards the end of the year.

"I am not fully fit yet but I am certainly a lot, lot closer than I was."

It is clear from just watching Reynolds walk that he is not 100 per cent but that doesn't seem to worry the 39-year-old from Nottingham.

"I damaged my ankle in '98 and had quite a big operation on it and it has never been right since. But of course breaking my leg and doing some damage to my ankle again has brought it all back," he said.

"I have got very little movement in the ankle. I can't balance on my leg because there is no movement to keep me balanced. But that doesn't stop me riding a motorbike, if I was a footballer or something like that then I would be finished."

"I don't feel too bad. My racecraft will suffer - passing people and commitment, if you are going to make a move, doing it and making it stick," he went on.

"Obviously, I have not done a lot of that this year and it's a work of art. As long as I am riding fast and I get a decently qualifying position then hopefully there won't be too many people to overtake.

"I have no expectations. I know exactly where we want to be at and that is to make Rizla Suzuki competitive. But we are just going to see what happens."

This is only the second time that the superbikes have paid a visit to Croft but hopes are high after the circuit racked up the highest attendance of any of last year's rounds on its debut. Reynolds, for one, has given it the thumbs up.

"I always love coming up to the North-East. I have a lot of family and my dad is from Morpeth way so I feel quite at home here," he said.

"The circuit is very demanding, very bumpy. That is not a criticism it's just something you have to deal with. There are a lot of bumpy circuits around the UK.

"We are always looked after very well here and they will go that extra yard to make us feel more welcome.

"You are starved of motorsport in this neck of the woods.

"There is Knockhill a lot further north so it is right that we should come here."