Yamaha explains Lorenzo test refusal: "This isn't a charity"

Lorenzo will join Ducati in 2017, which will mark the end of a nine-year premier-class partnership between the Spanish rider and Yamaha.

Despite remaining under contract with Yamaha until December 31, Lorenzo will be permitted to test with Ducati in the post-season test at Valencia, but Yamaha will not allow him to take part in the two-day test Ducati booked at Jerez.

In the Thursday press conference at Motegi, Lorenzo hoped that his many years of service for Yamaha would see the manufacturer reconsider its stance regarding the Jerez test, although he ultimately conceded he would "respect whatever decision".

In a press conference of his own on Friday, Jarvis said: "Regarding the test in Jerez, I think it's better to concentrate first on the test in Valencia.

"Because, by contract, no Yamaha rider has an automatic right to test for any other manufacturer - to do anything for any other manufacturer - while they're under contract to us, to Yamaha.

"The contracts are always until December 31st and that's the same for Jorge's contract. And the reason why they're until December 31st is this is not only a sport, this is also a business - and for us, for Yamaha, we spend a lot of money for our riders' contracts. And we want to have return on our investment.

"Of course, you never know what the result is going to be of any season - but the last thing you want is that your rights to use your rider finish after the last race.

"It's not only Yamaha and our global network, but also all of our sponsors, all of our partners. They also signed up to support our team, with our riders, to be able to use the image, and the benefits of that association, to the end of the year.

"What we've done with the Valencia test is, in the spirit of cooperation amongst the manufacturers, a relic of simple times - the gentlemen's agreement - we've let Jorge be available to do two days of testing in Valencia.

"And for us, we think that that's reasonable and we think that that's correct, and that's enough."

Lorenzo's aims "different to ours"

Jarvis went on to suggest it would be "difficult" for Yamaha  to justify allowing Lorenzo to test at Jerez.

"In the case of Jorge - but in the case of anybody else, it would be the same with Valentino [Rossi], et cetera - we spend a lot of money on our rider contracts. It is a very, very significant investment.

"For us, for our company and for our sponsors, it would be very difficult to explain why you let your rider that you're still paying test for multiple days for your main competitor.

"We are willing to play the game and we are willing to do what is normal to allow the riders to have an exception to step out of the contract for two days at Valencia. But for us, to do more than that - it's a bit like, you give a hand and someone takes your whole arm.

"Of course, Jorge would like to be given the opportunity to test because his mission is to get up to speed as quick as possible, to be as fast as possible with the Ducati next year. But next year he will be one of our main competitors. His wish and desire is different to ours.

"Our desire next year is to try and win the first race, and I'm sure Ducati's mission is to try to win the first race. He [Jorge] will be a serious threat for next season from the first race. It's business. It's sport, absolutely a sport, but it's not charity. This is business."

No hard feelings

Jarvis subsequently insisted that any suggestions of a rift between Lorenzo and Yamaha over the matter were untrue.

"We have a very good relationship with Jorge. Obviously it changed slightly since the moment [he signed for Ducati], it's normal. When someone decides to leave, it's not the same as when they decide to stay with you, it's a normal transition in the relationship.

"But there's no animosity. I've read things, I've read all sorts of theories on the web forums, sites about possible problems going on behind the scenes at Yamaha. It's not true. There is no animosity, I don't think, between Lorenzo and us.

"He understands we're a professional company and a professional team, we understand he wants to leave and to get up to speed as quick as possible, and he understands that we have a contract. That's it."

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont