Lorenzo says Rossi relationship "non-existent"

Rossi attacked both Lorenzo and Honda's Marc Marquez in the run-in of last year's championship, accusing the latter of being Lorenzo's "bodyguard".

Matters have not improved since then, with the Yamaha teammates involved in another war of words following the Italian's pass on Lorenzo in the previous race at Misano.

"After the accusations he launched at Sepang, to me the relationship is non-existent," said Lorenzo at Motorland.

"I don't know what will happen in the future, but right now the relationship is zero after he accused me and Marquez.

"Marquez does what he thinks its best and what he feels he has to do, and I do what I feel I have to do. So I don't know what will happen in the future, but right now that's the situation."

Lorenzo, who will leave Yamaha for Ducati at the end of the year, insists that his relationship with Rossi is not affecting how the team works.

"Nothing changes, the work is the same," Lorenzo added.

"Every time I've shared the garage with a teammate I have done my job.

"If the relationship was good, great, if it wasn't good, or non-existent like now, then also great.

"The important thing is to work, to win races and, if possible, the championship. The rest is secondary."

Rossi: Relationship better than in 2009-'10

Faced with the same question, Rossi largely echoed the sentiments of his teammate - but did suggest his relationship with Lorenzo was better now than it had been during their first stint as teammates.

"For me personally, the situation has changed after the last three races of last year," Rossi said. "It's something that's never fixed, you know, it's like this.

"It's better than in 2009 and 2010, because we are older, we are more mature and we are professional riders, and we are in the same team - and we love to stay in this team and we know that we have to work together.

"Important is that your relationship and what you think remain off the track and you try to make the maximum always, in a very professional way. After [that], you know, it's impossible to like each other if you don't. It's like this."

Additional reporting by German Garcia Casanova and Oriol Puigdemont