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World Championship leader Hiroshi Aoyama got his Malaysian Grand Prix weekend off to a perfect start by setting the fastest lap time in practice at Sepang, while title rival Marco Simoncelli managed just tenth.

Reigning champion Simoncelli has won four of the last five races to close to within 12 points of the Scot Honda rider with two rounds to go, but momentum swung back in Aoyama's favour on Friday as Simoncelli's Metis Gilera lapped 1.2 seconds slower than the Japanese.

Thai rider Ratthapark Wilairot made it two Honda riders in the top three as he began the nearest thing to a home grand prix with a last-gasp third, just 0.052s behind Aoyama.

Mike di Meglio had led the session with six minutes to go being pushed down to fourth, with Aspar Aprilia team-mate and third in the championship Alvaro Bautista one place behind.

Double 2009 race winner Hector Barbera sat smiling and shrugging his shoulders in casual clothes at the start of the session in an apparent pay protest.

The 2010 MotoGP rider soon took to the track for Pepe World Aprilia and was fastest of all with 20 minutes to go, before claiming sixth at the flag

Friday practice - Sepang:

1. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda)

2. Alex Debon (Aprilia) +0.013sec

3. Rattapark Wilairot (Honda) +0.052sec

4. Mike di Meglio (Aprilia) +0.098sec

5. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) +0.284sec

6. Hector Barbera (Aprilia) +0.410sec

7. Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) +0.888sec

8. Lukas Pesek (Aprilia) +0.977sec

9. Raffaele de Rosa (Honda) +1.245sec

10. Marco Simoncelli (Gilera) +1.262sec

Watch Sepang qualifying LIVE from 5.45am on Saturday on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 525); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Crash.net / Eurosport