VALENTINO Rossi and Jeremy Burgess have been working together for 14-years, but it has been announced during Thursday’s press conference in Valencia that this partnership is to end.
Although Burgess is considered the most successful Crew Chief in motorcycle grand prix racing, Rossi is still searching for a new Crew Chief to accompany him in the 2014 season.
After winning seven world titles with Burgess, Rossi explained: “It’s not true that I’m unhappy with Jeremy’s work but it is true that next year he won’t be my Chief Mechanic. It was a very difficult decision for me because I have a great history with Jeremy. He is not just my Chief Mechanic. He is like part of my family. My father in racing.
“But I’ve decided for next year I need to change something to try to find new motivation and to have a boost to improve my level, my speed. So this will be my last race together with Jeremy.”
The Doctor’s contract with Yamaha Factory Racing is up for renewal at the end of 2014 and therefore he is now looking for new influences to stay competitive which will help to retain the contract for 2015.
The 34-year-old added: “Next year will be crucial and I need new motivation. In the last few races I’ve felt I wanted to work in a different way. It was a difficult choice to make. Yamaha had asked me some time ago, but I decided recently.
“In my head there is the idea of trying something new now. I’ve always done that in my career. Next year I have to earn a renewal with Yamaha, so I’ll have to be competitive. I still do not know who will be the new chief mechanic."
The Australian Crew Chief not only helped Rossi to attain seven world titles, but also helped Mick Doohan achieve all five of his world titles as well as Wayne Gardener to win his only world title.
