By Dean AdamsValentino Rossi’s former crewchief, Jeremy Burgess seems puzzled by the actions of his former rider at the Sepang MotoGP race.
Reached for comment last night, Burgess stated, “(That’s) not the Valentino Rossi I know. He can’t expect Dani and Marc to roll around in third and fourth while he and Lorenzo get on with it.”
Rossi has been accused of kicking Marquez’s Honda while the pair were tussling over position in the Sepang race. Marquez ended up on the ground while Rossi–if his penalty stands–will start the Valencia MotoGP race on the back row.
Burgess stated that in his opinion Rossi didn’t kick Marc “but he clearly slowed, stood the bike up and took an unnatural line. When the race was in front it all seemed rather strange. Again, not the Valentino Rossi I know.”
Rossi and Burgess split–ironically at the Valencia MotoGP round–in 2013.
Even in absence, Burgess remains one of the most respected crewchiefs in MotoGP. His record shows that he has won world championships with riders such as Michael Doohan, Freddie Spencer (250), Wayne Gardner and of course Rossi.
For veteran Rossi watchers, the Sepang event bordered on the slightly bizarre with Rossi at one point questioning if Marquez had ever had his poster on his bedroom wall as a boy, illustrating how much space Rossi had given Marquez inside his head. Historically, Rossi has been the alpha male of MotoGP.
Burgess theorized that Rossi’s behavior at Sepang was probably due to the stress of the 2015 season and other factors. “Long season leading the championship, 36 years old, (the) pressure is getting to him a little. Shows the older we get doesn’t make us smarter,” Burgess stated.
