Reigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo has accused Movistar Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi of teaming up with Maverick Vinales - the man who replaces him at Yamaha next year - to get a fast laptime in qualifying.

Rossi admitted he got a tow from the Ecstar Suzuki rider which enabled him to jump into pole position today, and improve his laptime by almost a second. The Doctor’s best until he was behind Vinales was 1’47.676 and the pole lap was a 1’46.504 while Vinales set a 1’46.598 for second.

“I needed to get out first as I didn’t have much time to make the strategy for three tyres. This is my strategy, to be alone and try to be as fast as possible, and some other riders are good to search and wait for someone,” said Lorenzo, speaking at the track.

“It looks like in the case of Rossi and Vinales it is some sort of strategy they have. If it is a coincidence, then it is one repeated four or five times. It is difficult to have so many repeat coincidences.”

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