But Lorenzo's graduation to the Fiat Yamaha team has put the 20-year-old firmly back on Pedrosa's radar - especially after delivering a debut pole position [Pedrosa qualified fifth on his MotoGP debut] and then a Pedrosa-equalling second place finish in his first MotoGP race.

Pedrosa, still recovering from a fractured hand, took third in the Qatar night race and therefore joined Lorenzo and race winner Casey Stoner on the podium - where it wasn't something Pedrosa said that troubled Lorenzo, but what he didn't say...

"I did not like that he did not congratulate me, although we can all do and say what we want," Lorenzo told the Spanish press. "If I were him - Dani Pedrosa - I would have congratulated a newcomer that finished second. Everyone else I saw at Qatar congratulated me; mechanics, riders and officials.

"I try to get along well with everyone, to always be a gentleman, and when someone does better than me I congratulate them," claimed Jorge. "Although it might be difficult to do, I will still say to them 'you did a great job'.

"That it how I was taught to behave by my father since I was small and if Dani wins at Jerez I will, of course, congratulate him. I do not know if he would accept my congratulations, but I will do it even if I am criticised for it," he added.

The Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, which takes place on March 30, is the first home race of the year for both Lorenzo and Pedrosa.

"We are not going to get 'dizzy' after the good performance in Qatar," Lorenzo insisted. "We are only thinking about Jerez now and not about the world championship."