Italy's Michel Fabrizio thrilled the home fans by topping the timesheets ahead of the FIM Superbike World Championship at Monza.

The Ducati Xerox rider edged out title hopeful Ben Spies in the early free practice before claiming provisional pole in qualifying pole ahead of Britain's Tom Sykes.

Fabrizio clocked one minute 45.447 seconds to beat Sykes by more than three tenths on the eve of tomorrow's Superpole.

Runaway championship leader, Japan's Noriyuki Haga, was the third fastest as he looks for what would be, surprisingly, a first pole of the season this weekend.

American Spies, who like Haga has won four of this season's eight races so far, was only seventh on his Yamaha.

Britain's Leon Haslam, who is attempting to hang on to the coat tails of the top two, was way down in 12th.

FIM Supersport World Championship leader Cal Crutchlow warmed up nicely for tomorrow's qualifying by claiming the best time in today's free practice.

The Briton clocked one minute 50.594 seconds on his Yamaha ahead of a weekend when he will hope to secure a fourth pole and second win of the season.

Spain's Joan Lascorz was not far behind, his Kawasaki just a hundredth of a second further back, with Australia's Mark Aitchison third fastest.

Crutchlow's nearest championship rivals, Eugene Laverty and Kenan Sofuoglu, could only muster 11th and ninth places respectively.