Burgess carries burden of success to Ducati

Rossi and Burgess will be expected to bring winning-ways to Ducati

Finding out Valentino Rossi was moving to Ducati was so exciting – it’s a move that completely encapsulates what Rossi is all about. He is mounting another new challenge, with a manufacturer he has always dreamed to represent, on a bike that is still, for the most part, inferior to the pack leaders – most notably Yamaha, where he will be moving from.

Now this was not the case when Vale first agreed to board the M1 – it was being far outclassed by Rossi’s then-ride, the RC211V Honda. As soon as Rossi et al arrived in the Yamaha garage, it was clear there was a lot of work to be done – but not just with the M1, with the Yamaha mentality too.

Having arrived from the strict and exacting quarters of HRC, the disorder in the Yamaha garage was quite a shock. Working with the garage in this previous style is, seemingly, something that could have been the difference between Rossi winning and losing; being a legend and throwing his career away… So who do we – and Valentino (but probably not the rest of the paddock) – have to thank?… That would be crew chief Jeremy Burgess et al.

As soon as Rossi had made up his mind to join Yamaha, he was adamant that he needed Jeremy and his HRC mechanic team to join him there. While initially hesitant – Burgess told Rossi that the Yamaha would never catch-up, as they lacked the means and engineers of Honda – it was not long after Rossi’s declaration to join Yamaha that Jeremy ironed out a contract of his own and, just like that, he and his HRC crew were on board with Rossi.

While a large point of the move was to prove his wins were as much to do with his rider ability as it was the superiority of the RC211V – Rossi owes a lot of credit and thanks to the remarkable work Burgess and the team did for the M1. Prior to their arrival, the adjustments were made seemingly haphazardly – certainly without the strict trial-and-error, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, tactics of the HRC garage. And it carried a tainted reputation with the riders who boarded it.

Rossi and his Yamaha team celebrate another victory

Well, we all know how the story goes… The hard work, great ability and determination of Jeremy’s crew not only allowed Rossi to prosper, but they are now leaving behind a legacy. The Yamaha is the best bike on the track, not just because Jorge Lorenzo is 2010 Champion, but because Yamaha are also topping both the Team and Constructors Championships.

Because there are such mirrors with Rossi’s move to Ducati; continuing his relationship with Jeremy and mechanics like Alex Briggs, seemed crucial. Prior to discovering the team were moving with him, rumours were suggesting Jeremy could be wooed back to Honda, to lead the garage and Casey Stoner’s new title-bid, as Burgess’ history is moving to teams where a talented young rider is making a push for the Championship.

Thankfully, he is continuing his long success with Rossi and hopefully, they can make it another, 8th, joint title. Seeing if they can bring the same magic to Ducati as they brought to Yamaha is what we are apprehending. Can they make Ducati a winner for the first time since Casey Stoner in 2007, and further than that, can they make the Ducati dominate the grid, and the Desmosedici the bike to fear?

Part of the challenge is not that the Ducati needs work from the experienced engineering crew – but the burden of success that Rossi and his Yamaha team will have to carry with them to the Italian manufacturer.

Burgess seems his usual positive and calm self when speaking of the challenge of adjusting the Ducati for Valentino to succeed on. He believes ‘racing is cyclic,’ predicting – (perhaps a mind-game?) – that Yamaha could be coming towards the end of their ‘so-called dominance’. Though, he is not underestimating the hunger of Honda, who have been upstaged for far too long – bringing Casey Stoner over to the Repsol team, alongside some of the Yamaha engineers that are not joining Rossi.

Repsol Honda will look to succeed with Pedrosa and Dovizioso - and Stoner

With Lorenzo looking to prove his first Championship was no fluke, Stoner making the step up to Repsol Honda, Pedrosa looking to complete an injury-free season and win his first Championship, also on the Repsol Honda which he has four-years experience on… 2011 will be a big challenge, especially with Honda who are desperate to have a resurgence of dominance.*

Jeremy will be giving the same speeches to Valentino as he did in 2003/04, warning him to reset his expectations of the bike – do not expect it to act like the Yamaha and do not pre-empt what changes the Ducati will need. Despite having spent seven seasons on the Yamaha, Rossi is, with it, so much more experienced and so the adjustment from Yamaha to Ducati should be less of a shock than Honda to Yamaha.

It is, however, still unspecified as to when Jeremy and the team of mechanics will be able to get their magic hands onto the GP10. Rossi’s mechanic, Alex Briggs explained on his Twitter: “I’m contracted to Yamaha ’til after the [Valencia] test & will honor that. So unless there is a change, no,” in reply to if he will be able to work on the Ducati during the post-Valencia test.

While Burgess is typically unflustered by this – suggesting Rossi’s lack of fitness would not provide an accurate test – the point still stands that the reduced winter testing schedule compels the teams to get familiar with the bike sooner, and suggests opportunity to learn from the Valencia test would be advantageous.

*Incidentally, there are so many Honda sub-plots. While everyone was anticipating the Repsol Honda team for 2011 to be strongly favoured, Dani Pedrosa, and new signing, Casey Stoner… We forgot about Dovizioso, who was contracted to still have a factory ride for next season – and thus, we will be witnessing a three-way Repsol Honda garage next season. With pressure on all, but mostly Dovi, to prove their rightful place as a Repsol ‘lead-rider’.

Can Simoncelli mature and improve enough to impress HRC?

BUT then, we are of course still forgetting to mention Marco Simoncelli’s role in all of this – the erratic MotoGP debutant has made a good case for his abilities this season on the Honda Gresini, and will be looking to gain a better ride, if not prove he is the better bet for Honda’s successful future.

Mourning MotoGP 2010

Jorge Lorenzo: 2010 Champion

With the Championship already tied up for Jorge, I have already started my Moto GP mourning for the end of this season… I can’t help but get ahead of myself with anticipation for 2011; caught in a limbo where I don’t want the MotoGP to end – but, boy, I can’t wait for the new challenges and variables 2011 is due to bring!

There are of course still two races left this season – and actually still a lot of drama left to be resolved. Just because Lorenzo has sped away with the title, with an especially dominent end to the season, does not mean that all the loose ends have been tied.

We have this weekend, a Hallowe’en trip to Estoril, and at the start of November we bid a final farewell to the 2010 season at the traditional Valencia circuit.

Estoril is famed for thrilling overtaking manouvres, with riders making daring cuts – unfortunately the heavy rain of this weekend could limit the bravery of the riders, as risk of a fall multiplies in the unpredictable and greasy conditions. While there are no titles to lose – points, and pride, still remain to be won.

The Spanish East Coast is a place where Jorge will want to end his first Championship season with a win in front of his home fans; Dani will be back from his latest injury – a multiply fractured collarbone – looking to claw back those lost points while he was away, prove he is not so far behind title rival and compatriot, Jorge Lorenzo, and set a statement for how he is looking to begin 2011. Pedrosa is still second in the Championship, just 23 points ahead of last race’s victor, Casey Stoner, and 31 more ahead of Valentino Rossi.

Yes, The Doctor. Not one to ever shirk the limelight – and with these being his final two races for Yamaha, you can bet Vale will be desperate to end his season – and Yamaha career – with a victory, or two. Just as he did when he left Honda in 2003.

This is a large reason I am excited for 2011 – Rossi, 46, on the Ducati.

We have no more superlatives left to describe Valentino, he has set such a huge precedent and changed the face of MotoGP. He proved the importance of the rider, how having a ‘fast bike’ was not all that ensured victory. His, as seen, ‘step down’ to Yamaha seemed a folly move that would be suicidal to his career. The bike was so far behind Honda; the dominant force, the best and the beast in the paddock. No one could understand the motives or logic of such a move – and certainly did not expect him to be so immediately successful (a first race victory and first season championship).

Valentino enjoying his Yamaha success

I digress, we all know Valentino’s success story. This is why we should not be alarmed that he has chosen to move to his dream team, Italian manufacturers, Ducati.

While his motives for leaving perhaps this time involve less animosity and apathy, most certainly the ones he had about needing a new challenge have resurfaced. Somehow, seven years have flown by. It was such a personal shock to realise he had been at Yamaha so long – as it meant I had been watching MotoGP for over a decade, and at 22, I thought that was quite excessive, in that I had no idea I had been following since my childhood – but the numbers don’t lie! It’s even crazy to realise he was at Yamaha – risky, deficient, unpredictable Yamaha – for nearly twice the time he was with Honda (from 500’s to MotoGP). A fair reflection of where Rossi’s happiest years have been.

At 31, with six MotoGP titles and a Championship in each 125cc, 250cc and 500cc, nobody can begrudge a move to the Italian manufacturer – and even fewer can question his “balls” (as he refers to so often in his autobiography), for making this move now.

I will admit to not being a fan of the Ducati – I blame this, in part, to being a female and preferring a less muscular-looking bike. I feel even worse about the street BMW’s… I can only blame it on wanting a sexier aesthetic.

But it’s not just that – the bike is so different; so idiosyncratic and disobedient. It seems a real wrestle, and like the sort of bike that embodies the idea that victory can only come when the rider is 100% in-tune with his bike; the sort of bike where success can only come via a harmonious relationship between man and machine.

It’s such a romanticised notion: the compatriot manufacturer, another challenge, a new beginning – and all the time in a league that has some of the best young riders currently competing, and some of the toughest challengers Rossi has had for years: Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Marco Simoncelli, Ben Spies…

The move-up from Moto 2 to MotoGP ‘proper’ is a, reletively, easier adjustment to make than from 250cc to the former 500cc series. The four-stroke MotoGP bikes are easier to control and have less attitude than the 500’s.

Dani Pedrosa celebrates a victory

I have split loyalties now, for who I want to succeed next year. For the brave and exciting reasons I have stated above, seeing Valentino do it again and prove his dominance in MotoGP would be immeasurably rewarding.

But it cannot be ignored that I have invested a lot of time and emotion into the success of Dani Pedrosa. I was already into my MotoGP when a fresh-faced, teeny-tiny, Dani climbed upon his first Honda in the 125 class. He became a quick, and firm, favourite of mine – especially when he was racing 125 alongside Rossi’s 500 season.

And because I have championed him, ached for him to win and despaired everytime he fell off – usually for just seeming too tiny for the bike! – something I want more than anything, and I think that he deserves, is for him to win a MotoGP Title.

I still love the Repsol Honda’s – after carrying Rossi and Nicky to victories. I hope still for the same for Dani. Though I fear the competiton, with the garage switchovers, will be tougher than ever.

I’m anticipating a positive, and emotional, end to this season – but more than that, cannot wait for 2011’s to start. Another exciting chapter in the life of Valentino Rossi, and hopefully a rightly memorable one for Dani Pedrosa too…