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Why Rossi and Vinales are unlikely to stay friends

After the animosity with Jorge Lorenzo in recent years, Valentino Rossi began 2017 singing a friendly happy birthday to new Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales. But does that relationship have a hope of staying convivial when the season starts?

Was Valentino Rossi at your birthday lunch the other week? If you are Maverick Vinales, you can definitely say 'yes', but I imagine he'd be in the minority.

It was all smiles when Vinales turned 22 earlier this month - you may have seen the nice little video Yamaha posted on social media. He celebrated with his new team, sitting next to boss Lin Jarvis, and his new team-mate Rossi came over from (I assume) a few seats up to join them for the photos. Maybe he also fancied some cake.

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