LCR Honda rubbish Jerry Burgess crew chief link

A shock return to MotoGP in 2015 for Valentino Rossi’s legendary ex-crew chief Jerry Burgess has been dismissed as ‘complete fantasy.’

Burgess, who was sacked by Rossi at the end of last season after winning seven MotoGP titles together, was the subject of shock speculation linking him with a crew chief role with rising Aussie Moto3 star Jack Miller.

Miller, who is leading the Moto3 series by nine-points with just five races remaining, will switch to the LCR Honda squad next season to ride a production RCV1000R as teammate to Briton Cal Crutchlow.

LCR Honda boss Lucio Cecchinello was reported to have approached 61-year-old Burgess when the Aussie visited the paddock for the first time this season during last month’s Indianapolis round in America.

But Cecchinello told MCN: “That is complete fantasy. When I saw this news I started to laugh because this is not the truth. I never spoke to Jerry. I don’t even have his telephone number.”

Miller, who finished third in Misano from a seventh pole position of the season, also rubbished the rumour, with Casey Stoner’s ex-crew chief Cristian Gabbarini clinching a deal to work with the 19-year-old.

Miller said: “When I heard it I laughed. It was news to me.”

Rossi, who has been rejuvenated working under new crew chief Silvano Galbusera in 2014 and won for the first time this season in Misano last weekend, believes Burgess would have been a good pick for a young rider like Miller.

The 35-year-old said: “I’m very happy if Jeremy comes back. I don’t know if it is true or not, but I think for me it would be a very good option because Jeremy could teach him a lot of secrets and tricks about MotoGP.”

Miller’s deal with LCR will be confirmed today (Wednesday) or tomorrow.