Not for the first time this season, MotoGP title contenders Maverick Vinales and Joan Mir exchanged some hand signals after 🗹crossing paths on track during day one of the French Grand Prix.

Friday's incident occurred when Vinales, having run off-track in the damp afternoon conditions, re-joined the circuit j🐽ust ahead of the Suzuki rider - who made his displeasure clear.

"I was not super angry," Mir insisted afterwards. "I was really surprised to see one bike coming across thღe straight like this. I didn’t see any movement of Maverick's head, he was just looking at the track.

"The good thing🔯 is I closed the throttle. Imagine if I was 50m more in front? We could have had a dangerous moment, but it would have been a lot worse for him because I was the one with the speed.

"It’s important everyone understands this cannot happen. I don’t want to blame Vinal𒀰es. But it’s something to consider that we cannot do this. This layout is really dangerous because [you rejoin] in the middle of the straight."

Vinales insisted he had not only seen Mir but taken the safest o꧃ption to rejoin.

"I saw him before re-entering, and then I was on the grass, so I willꦗ❀ not lean the bike on the grass because you will crash when it's wet, so I just went straight," said the Monster Yamaha rider.

"I don't know if it was enough room on the track to pass, but I don't think I ⭕was too aggressive and for sure not intentional, because I re-entered on the grass, and I didn't want to lean the bike, because there it is very dangerous.

"Imagine if I crashed, the bike ☂would go in the middle of the track when&nb𓂃sp;he passes.

"Afterwards I said, 'I see you, don't worry'. I think I gave him enough space, but I don'tꦏ know, I was not on𝔉 Joan's bike to see.

♈"But anyway, I tried to enter the track as safely as I𝔍 can."

Vinales went on to finish second fastest on Friday, with Mir in 🦋ninth.

The pair are currently second (Mir) and🍸 third (Vinalﷺes) in the world championship standings behind Fabio Quartararo, who was eleventh quickest on Friday.