Reigning WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea snatched top spot from under the nose of Imola pre-race favourite Chaz davies in the open practice this morning and was the only rider to break the 1'47s barrier.
Rea had led for a majority of the session, sitting pretty with a 1'47.420 set on his fourth lap before retiring to the garage for a debrief. Davies was in second with Tom Sykes, on the second Kawasaki, in third place.
Davies' Aruba Ducati team-mate Marco Melandri heaved himself into third place with 1'48.340 before Rea came out and put the hammer down again to set a 1'47.350. Davies again upped his game to set a 1'47.909 but then really got going with his fastest lap of 1'47.241 to take top spot.
Rea, however, was having none of it and stuck in a 1'46.951 on his 12th circulation to re-take top spot. Melandri ended in third with a 1'47.542 to keep Barni Ducati's Xavi Fores at bay.
Sykes slipped back to fifth place and a second off the pace with Michael van der Mark the quickest of the Pata Yamahas in sixth on a 1'48.232. He was pursued by Jordi Torres and Roman Ramos.
Eugene Laverty has made his return from injury and took ninth place on the Milwaukee Yamaha with Puccetti Kawasaki wildcard Leon Haslam in tenth. Topratz, on the sister bike, was one place and one-tenth behind.
Leon Camier, also returning from a big crash, set the 12th fastest time but had a small crash at Rivazza to add to his bruises. Lorenzo Savadori, Jake Gagne and Tati Mercado completed the top ten.
Britain's Alex Lowes went down early at Tosa and finished the session in 18th place.