Ben Spies has targeted a win in "Ducati's back yard" at Imola this weekend as the Yamaha rider looks to close in on the FIM Superbike World Championship title.

Spies, 25, overtook Xerox Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga at the head of the standings for the first time this season with a win and a second-placed finish at the Nurburgring three weeks ago.

"As far as I'm concerned, we're going to Imola to try and win two races. We know this is Ducati's back yard and the past has been pretty good for them, so it will be tough," said the American, who now holds an 18-point lead over veteran Haga. "Having said that we have some good stuff worked out with the bike and the team has been continuing to develop, so I'm confident we can pull in some good results."

Spies' team-mate Tom Sykes is under pressure to keep his place in the factory Yamaha team for next season but has pledged to take his first podium of the season.

He said: "I'm really ready to get on the rostrum and taste the champagne, I certainly feel like I'm capable of doing it.

"That's the plan, so hopefully we can go there strong and get stuck straight in."

Haga has not won a race since taking the double in South Africa back in May and needs to find his form if he is to finally claim his first title.

Stiggy Honda will be without John Hopkins, who suffered serious injuries after crashing out in Germany, but there will be a new name on the grid as reigning FIM 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli races for Aprilia.

Simoncelli - who will ride in MotoGP next season - is entering the race as a wild card and is hoping for a strong display.

He said: "I'd like to thank Aprilia for this great opportunity. I will be making my debut in a category and on a track that are completely unknown to me, the level of our rivals is very high and it won't be at all easy to obtain a good result."