In a recent interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Dovizioso hit out at the departing Iannone, who switches to Suzuki next season after being replaced at Ducati by Jorge Lorenzo.

"For me, respect for people is important, and [Iannone's] entourage, and especially him, do not have it," said Dovizioso.

Speaking to the same publication, Iannone responded to these comments – saying that, while he and Dovizioso were not friends, he did at least have respect for his colleague.

"I'm sorry he thinks this," Iannone said. "We've known each other forever, since when he raced against my brother in minimoto.

"For me, there isn't great friendship, but there is respect. I respect him a lot, as a person and a rider, although on track there is naturally a rivalry.

"What happened in Argentina [where Iannone hit Dovizioso on the last lap] did not help – you can say sorry a thousand times, but it doesn't help.

"I think for him it has been two years with a teammate who is difficult to beat. Exactly the same for me."

"If I crashed, it's because I wanted more"

Reflecting on his second season as a works Ducati rider, Iannone said he was satisfied with his achievements, which included a maiden premier class win in Austria, even if his campaign was blighted by a number of crashes.

"Overall the season was positive," he said. "I won my first GP, I took Ducati back to the top after a long time. Whenever I got to the end, I was almost always fighting for the podium, and when I crashed I was fighting for it.

"I fell too many times, but if I did it was because I wanted more – instead of being content with third, I tried to come second."

Iannone also admitted his frustration at missing four races through injury when the Ducati was at its most competitive late in the year.

"It's a shame, because especially in the second part of the season the Ducati was very competitive, maybe it was missing a few small details to win but we were there," he added.

"And if I was able to always race, I feel I would have been stronger."