Defending MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo has accused Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales of working together to help each other during qualifying in Italy.
The comments come after Lorenzo's Movistar Yamaha team-mate Rossi qualified first for the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello having trailed Suzuki's Vinales during his pole-securing lap on Saturday.
Lorenzo accused Rossi of slipstreaming Vinales - who will become the Italian's team-mate at Yamaha next season - to secure pole position.
"I think it's obvious that my strategy is to be alone and to be as fast as possible," Lorenzo said post-qualifying.
"Some other riders are good to search or to wait for somebody, and it looks like in the case of Rossi and Vinales. It's not just a coincidence, it's some strategy that they have."
The Spaniard added: "If it's a coincidence, it's a coincidence which has been repeated five or six times. So to have repeated so many coincidences... but it could be. Who knows?"
Vinales hit back at Lorenzo's comments, claiming the three-time world champion is no saint himself.
"Lorenzo can't talk, because he plans the sessions with [Ducati's Andrea] Iannone, who set his lap behind him," the Suzuki rider said. Rossi took away my pole, but you have to admit he did a great job."
Vinales will start second behind Rossi for Sunday's race, while Lorenzo must fight back from fifth on the grid, just behind Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez.
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