Valentino Rossi: Jeremy Burgess Is “My Father Of Racing”

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi announced Thursday during the MotoGP press conference in Valencia, Spain, that he will not be working next season with longtime crew chief Jeremy Burgess.

“The rumors are true,” Rossi admitted. “I think that next year Jeremy will not 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, but he is like a part of a family—my father of racing.

“I decided that for next year I need to change something for try to find new motivation and try to have a new boost for improve my level—my speed. This is our last race together with Jeremy.”

Burgess, 60, has partnered with Rossi for the past 14 seasons, winning seven premier-class titles on factory Hondas and Yamahas. He also won a total of six 500cc world championships with fellow Australians Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan. Burgess was a mechanic on Freddie Spencer’s Erv Kanemoto-led team when the American won his second 500cc world championship in 1985.

With just one round remaining in this year’s championship, Rossi is currently fourth overall in points. Since making his return to Yamaha after two unsuccessful seasons with Ducati, the Italian has won one race and finished on the podium five others times.