125: Simon takes early Mugello advantage.

Julian Simon has set the fastest lap time during Friday's 125cc free practice session for the Italian Grand Prix at a sunny Mugello.

Le Mans winner and world championship leader Simon set his best lap at the very end of the one hour session, the Spaniard's 1min 59.437sec being 0.284sec quicker than Aspar team-mate Sergio Gadea.

Local star Andrea Iannone, winner of the first two rounds of the season, was third fastest with the third Aspar machine of Bradley Smith, who starts the weekend 5.5 points behind Simon, fourth (+0.425sec).

Nicolas Terol and Stefan Bradl - who fell at the end of the session - completed an all-Aprilia top six, with Sandro Cortese seventh for the Ajo Interwetten Derbi team.

Friday practice - Mugello:

1. Simon (Aprilia) 1min 59.437sec
2. Gadea (Aprilia) +0.284sec
3. Iannone (Aprilia) +0.317sec
4. Smith (Aprilia) +0.425sec
5. Terol (Aprilia) +0.535sec
6. Bradl (Aprilia) +1.110sec
7. Cortese (Derbi) +1.209sec
8. Rabat (Aprilia) +1.294sec
9. Redding (Aprilia) +1.298sec
10. Savadori (Aprilia) +1.439sec

13. Webb (Aprilia) +1.522sec