MOSCOW : Brian Joubert of France and Japan's Fumie Suguri took charge of the fifth round of the ISU Grand Prix at the Khodynka ice palace in Moscow on Friday.

Joubert, who finished fourth on home ice a week ago, performed at his top level registering a new personal record of 86.10pts to take the lead in the men's event.

Czech Tomas Verner, who was third at the Cup of China, is second, almost 13 points behind, while Adam Rippon of the United States sits third on 71.62 points.

In the women's section, Suguri grabbed the lead after short programme taking advantage of the decision of last year's champion Kim Yu-Na of South Korea to miss the Moscow event after winning Skate America and Cup of China.

The 27-year-old Japanese, who claimed a season's best 58.30 mark for the short programme, is just ahead of Italy's Carolina Kostner and America's teenager Rachael Flatt.

In pairs, world championship and 2006 Olympic silver medallists Dan Zhang Dan and Hao Zhang of China, who won Cup of China this season, scored 67.06pts for the leading position with a smooth, short skate routine.

The Chinese duo are almost nine points ahead of the Russian pair Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov, the Skate Canada winners, while Ukrainians Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov sit third on 58.34 points.

In the ice dancing section the hosts Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin took the lead with their season's best 38.77pts mark for the flawless presenation of the compulsory dance, the Viennese Waltz.

Domnina and Shabalin, who won Cup of China, are followed by compatriots Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski, who are 2.58 pts behind.

American duo Meryl Davis and Charlie White are third also with their season's best record of 35.77pts.

- AFP /ls