Lorenzo: no room for complacency despite perfect start to season

While Rossi had to fight his way through to second, Lorenzo dominated from the outset, leading away from pole and extending his advantage every lap. His eventual winning margin was 5.9 seconds.

Lorenzo insisted he had to ride at his extreme limit in order to first establish a gap over 2012 title rival Dani Pedrosa and the chasing pack, an effort he feels indicates Yamaha still has work to do and pace to find.

"I'm really happy, really proud of myself and the team and this weekend, which was quite perfect," he said in the aftermath of his victory.

"To start the season in this way is fantastic. I wanted to get away at the start but I knew it would be difficult because the other riders were very strong, so I had to push at more than 100 per cent for just a few tenths each lap.

"Once I got a few seconds it was a bit easier and it started to be four or five tenths, which gave me the confidence to stay calm and focussed, and that's when a rider is at their best.

"We have to celebrate the result, but we [can't] be too calm because we know we have things to improve on the bike.

"The next race [at Austin] will be hard for us as we saw in pre-season, and in different circumstances, different weather, anything is possible. We will have a lot of work."

Lorenzo also congratulated Rossi after the Italian's podium in his first race back at Yamaha. The Italian scored just three rostrums in two seasons with Ducati.

"I'm really happy for Vale," Lorenzo added. "He stayed for two years in bad situation, [but] demonstrated again that he is very quick and complete rider."