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By Mike Nicks
Jerry Burgess and Valentino Rossi, the toughest duo in motorcycle racing, began the verbal process of softening up their opponents - after they had already crushed them on the track in the final pre-season MotoGP test session at Jerez at the weekend.
The pair - renowned for their ability to wage scorched-earth psychological warfare - let the world know that they're feeling relaxed and ready for battle after Rossi set the fastest time on the 2.748-mile track with his Yamaha M1.
Burgess, the greatest crew chief of modern times, said in his famously laid-back Aussie-speak: "One would like to think we have a good bike for all circuits." Translation into pitlane-ese: "We're coming to get you, you bastards, and this time we're making no mistake."
Meanwhile his sidekick Rossi, fresh from pasting a record 1m 38.394-second lap onto the Jerez asphalt and winning a new BMW in the process, said: "The bike is great fun to ride because I am very fast in the corners. I always try to find the limit with a qualifying tyre, but it's difficult with this bike because it's so good. The bike is braking well and the balance is good. We have no problems."
Burgess also dispelled two rumours that were circulating in the paddock at Jerez - the first that 2007's higher-revving 800cc bikes may risk running out of fuel on the final lap of a race now that fuel tank size has been reduced again to just 21 litres.
"We have more engine than we have fuel to run - but you still don't run out of fuel," Burgess said. "Maybe the guys won't finish the slowing-down lap after the chequered flag, but with the management systems that we have now they won't run out in the race."
He also denied suggestions that teams would have to soften the power output of their engines in order to meet out the fuel at circuits where consumption is higher.
Burgess also rubbished thoughts that in sticking to an in-line four-cylinder engine, Yamaha is at any disadvantage over the V4s which now dominate the MotoGP grid. Only six in-line fours remain in MotoGP - two factory Kawasakis, two factory Yamahas, and the two M1s run by the Dunlop Tech 3 team - while Honda and Ilmor have joined Ducati and Suzuki's trend, making 16 V4s.
Does a V4 have certain advantages in layout, compactness and narrowness that could start to make the in-liners look vintage?
"On a V4 you've got cams on the back of the engine and a lot more to drive on the engine which could make it a lot heavier," Burgess said. "We have not seen any major flaws in our engine, and I've never seen a V4 win a MotoGP championship yet. And anyway, if everyone did the same thing we might as well all make sticker bikes!"
With the typically Burgess bring-it-on talk, he added: "The better rider didn't win the championship last year. As a team we worked hard and got up, [then] got knocked down again, but it's only made us stronger."
Rossi concluded: "It's always important to beat your rivals. Every test and practice is a battle. It means nothing in championship points, but it shows your potential."
The message is clear: Burgess and Rossi may already have won five MotoGP titles together, but the fire burns as strongly as ever for 2007.
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