Jakub Smrz kicked off his home event at Brno in style by claiming the fastest time in free practice around the Masaryk Circuit.

Although the Guandalini Ducati rider admits the track is not amongst his favourites, he was still on top form as he bettered 'Brno-expert' Max Biaggi's best lap in the latter stages of the session.

Gettiing the home fans on their feet, Smrz and Biaggi shared the top spot throughout the session, but it was the privateer rider who eventually got the edge with a lap of 2mins 00.233secs.

Biaggi, a winner on the Suzuki last season, was second fastest, while Troy Corser jumped up the order in the closing stages to go third best.

Misano winner Ruben Xaus was fourth fastest on the second Sterilgarda Ducati, ahead of Fonsi Nieto, the Spaniard showing well as the leading Alstare Suzuki rider. That was enough to place him marginally ahead of Max Neukirchner in sixth.

Michel Fabrizio was the best of the Xerox Ducati riders in seventh, ahead of team-mate Troy Bayliss, the championship leader almost a second slower than Smrz. Wild-card rider Niccoló Canepa, meanwhile, was tenth fastest, just behind Ryuichi Kiyonari on the best of the Hondas.