British MotoGP: Burgess: Engine performance more important than ever in MotoGP

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess reckons engine performance is now more critical than ever in the new 800cc MotoGP era.

The advantage held by Ducati’s impressive new factory GP7 has been crucial in seeing Aussie Casey Stoner open up a 14-point lead over the Fiat Yamaha rider going into this weekend’s British GP at Donington Park.

Burgess said: “As we’ve seen not having the engine is far more of a disadvantage than it has been in other years.

“These bikes corner so well that there is no real opportunity for riders to make passes in the corners.

“Its much more difficult even for someone with the skills of Valentino because the other guys bike speed is that much higher.

“The engine is a very important part of it particularly over the distance of the race. We have got a great rider and a great bike but we are perhaps lacking a bit of push from the engine.  But it will come.”

Burgess said the job of trying to overhaul Stoner would be a slightly less challenging proposition on a series of tighter tracks now approaching on the calendar.

Donington is followed by Assen, Sachsenring and Laguna Seca and asked to asses Rossi’s chances in Sunday’s British GP he said: “There’s no straights that might help. The next group are fairly messy little tracks.

“They’ve destroyed Assen but we have got agility that will help us in these tracks and we have closed the gap a little bit on speed to the Ducati.

“I’m very optimistic about our chances at all of those tracks.

“Valentino has always got on well with them.

“We had a drama last year at Assen with the crash and the Sachsenring we’ve always managed to pull something out there.

“Laguna Seca hasn’t been great for us but we are getting better at it.”

Burgess though was at pains to highlight that nothing should be taken away from the stunning form of Stoner, who has beaten Rossi five times in the opening seven races.

The 21-year-old has already won four races in seven on board the Ducati and Burgess said: “We just want to keep it four out of 18 if we can. Casey is doing a great job and riding well.

“He’s got the bike under him that’s good and he’s got to use it properly, which he is doing so we’ve got no arguments there.

“He’s doing everything his employer is asking of him. I don’t think they can have any complaints.”