Mugello - World champion Marc Marquez of Spain set a new track record as he clocked the fastest time in the third and final free practice session ahead of the Italian GP at Mugello with qualifying later on Saturday.
The four-time world champion clocked a fastest lap of 1min 46.439sec on his Honda in Tuscany bettering by 0.50sec the previous record held by Italian Andrea Iannone of Suzuki since 2015.
The world championship leader, coming off three straight wins, sets himself up as favourite to take pole position later on Saturday.
Italian star Valentino Rossi was second fastest in a Yamaha at 0.336sec with Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo third best for Ducati at 0.343.
Suzuki's Iannone, who clocked the fastest times in both sessions on Friday, was fourth ahead of France's Johann Zarco of Yamaha Tech3.
Italy's Andrea Dovizioso, the world champion runner-up last season, was tenth fastest.
There were some big-name absentees from the top ten with Australia's Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) missing an automatic qualifying place along along with Spanish pair Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP).
Third free practice times:
1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 1:46.439, 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) at 0.336, 3. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Ducati) 0.343, 4. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Suzuki) 0.351, 5. Johann Zarco (FRA/Yamaha Tech3) 0.424, 6. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati Pramac) 0.507, 7. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/LCR Honda) 0.507, 8. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Honda) 0.548, 9. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 0.617, 10. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 0.647