Jaume Masia emphasised his status as favourite for the 2023 Moto3 World Championship title by setting the Friday pace in Practice for the Thailand Moto3.

The current Moto3 points’ leader was quickest of all in each of Friday’s practice sessions to assume the advantage overnight on the Leopard Racing Honda.

With four races remaining, Masia comes to the Chang International Circuit in Buriram with a slender four point lead over closest rival Ayumu Sasaki, the Japanese having taken advantage of the inclement weather in Melbourne a weekend earlier to score a crucial second place finish.

It was a modest start to the weekend for the Husqvarna IntactGP rider though in tenth place, just behind Daniel Holgado in eighth, the Spaniard himself now 22 points off the top spot.

David Alonso, who retains a slim chance of winning the title, was second quickest from Diogo Moreira, the Indonesian Moto3 winner arriving in Thailand under some controversy after it transpired he was able to start last weekend’s Phillip Island race despite briefly being knocked unconscious in an accident on the sighting lap.

Collin Veijer made big gains between sessions to turn in the fourth fastest lap, ahead of Ryusei Yamanaka, the Japanese rider having one of his better starts to an event in fifth.

Australian Moto3 winner Deniz Oncu was sixth, ahead of first-time podium winner Joel Kelso in seventh, with Holgado eighth, Riccardo Rossi ninth and Sasaki in tenth.

Of the Brits, Scott Ogden turned in the 17th fastest time on the best of the VisionTrack Hondas, with Josh Whatley in 25th.