Jeremy Burgess Out and Silvano Galbusera In as Valentino Rossi’s Crew Chief

Valentino Rossi has parted ways with longtime crew chief Jeremey Burgess, ending a partnership that extended across 14 years and three different manufacturers while capturing seven MotoGP and 500cc Grand Prix World Championships.

Burgess will be replaced by Louis CK lookalike Silvano Galbusera, a veteran crew chief and mechanic whose most extensive experience comes from World Superbike and Supersport racing. As crew chief and/or technical director, Galbusera has worked with an impressive roster of riders including Troy Corser, Noriyuki Haga, Cal Crutchlow and Ben Spies. More recently, Galbusera worked alongside Marco Melandri in BMW‘s now-shuttered WSBK team.

“I’d like to thank Yamaha and Valentino for this great opportunity to work close to such a multi-titled, high level champion,” says Galbusera. “I’m happy to be back in the Yamaha family and to have an opportunity in such a successful team that is always at the top.”

Galbusera will be tasked with helping revive Rossi’s career which has not been the same since he left Yamaha to join Ducati from 2011-2012. A return to Yamaha this season saw Rossi return to the top of the podium with a win at Assen while earning his most points in a single season since his 2009 championship.

Still, Rossi has found himself consistently behind teammate Jorge Lorenzo, Repsol Honda‘s Dani Pedrosa and newly-crowned 2013 MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez, leading to the decision to let Burgess go.

Burgess’ future remains up in the air. The 60-year-old Australian may be ready to retire, though he will no doubt draw suitors. Before with Rossi, Burgess served as crew chief for world champions Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan, and was a mechanic for Freddie Spencer’s 1985 500cc Grand Prix championship-winning campaign.

[Source: Yamaha]

By Dennis Chung