Lorenzo riding in pain

The Yamaha rider, who needs a minor miracle at Sepang this weekend to prevent his team-mate Valentino Rossi from wrapping up the world championship, set the pace in the session, six hundredths of a second ahead of Casey Stoner.

However, he said that a deep cut to his finger was affecting him while braking.

"I was riding quite aggressively today and I felt good on the bike right from the start, so I am very happy about this after what happened last weekend," said Lorenzo. "Our bike is working well though."

"Unfortunately I have some pain in my finger where I hurt it on Sunday, it's not too bad but the cut is right on the knuckle, so it's a painful when I have to bend it to brake.

"I was riding quite aggressively today and I felt good on the bike right from the start, so I am very happy about this after what happened last weekend," said Lorenzo. "Our bike is working well though."

Should Lorenzo win at Sepang, he would need Rossi to finish lower than fourth in order to take the title battle to a final-round decider at Valencia.