Cycle News

P22 IN THE WIND ROSSI SAYS GOODBYE TO BURGESS PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE V alentino Rossi inadvertently stole the headlines from his rivals at MotoGP's final showdown in Valencia when he was obliged to confirm that he had fired his long-standing crew chief and the power behind the throne for his seven premier-class world titles with both Honda and Yamaha. The decision, which to most smacked of desperation, was made because, "I decided that next year we need to change something, and find new motivation," said Rossi. "We have a great history – not just mechanical but also as part of the family. It was a very difficult decision." Speaking at the pre-event press conference, he looked somewhat shamefaced as he faced a barrage of questions. He had only informed the Australian pit-lane legend earlier that day, but news had leaked from his inner circle the previous week, and rumors were already in the public domain. "The rumors are true," said Rossi, who said he had not yet decided who the replacement would be, and that the rest of the mainly Antipodean crew were not in the firing line. He would not confirm further rumors that his choice for replacement would be fellowItalian Silvano Galbusera, vastly experienced both in MotoGP and latterly World Superbikes Most were stunned with the news that Valentino Rossi was replacing his long-time crew chief – the highly respected Jeremy Burgess. with Yamaha until their withdrawal, and in 2013 with Marco Melandri at BMW. Galbusera has some history with Rossi, having worked with him in 2010 when he was making his comeback after breaking his leg. On Monday, the announcement was made and the two Italians were together on day one of the postseason test. Rossi had made the Burgess decision during the last week, and blamed "a f*&king journalist" (rather than a leak from within his own tribe) for breaking the news, which he would clearly have preferred to keep under wraps for as long as possible. Burgess was already a noted crew chief long before he joined forces with Rossi, having guided Wayne Gardner to the 1987 title, and then fellow-Australian Mick Doohan to five championships in a row. Rossi joined Burgess and his tight-knit crew when he moved to the premier class in 2000, and in 2001 they won the first of seven championships, riding for Honda. When Rossi sensationally left to join Yamaha in 2004, one condition was that the whole pit crew came with him; and they followed him across to Ducati for his two doldrum years, returning with him to Yamaha. The magic, however, had gone, and Rossi has struggled to do more than take a stranglehold on fourth place, but for his single win at Assen. Unable to change the bike or any components thereof, and clearly increasingly anxious to find some solution, Rossi has

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