Matteo Flamigni, Franco Morbidelli’s chief mechanic for the 2025 season with the VR46 Racing Team, recently shared his memories of working with Jeremy Donaldson Burgess, the legendary Australian chief mechanic.
Burgess, a respected name in the world of motorcycling, made history alongside three world champions: Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi. He also played a key role in Freddie Spencer’s team when they won the 500cc world title in 1985.
Flamigni recalled working with the Australian, speaking to Mig Babol: ‘Talking to him, with his Australian accent, was a challenge in itself,’ Flamigni joked, recalling the long test sessions and Burgess’ teachings, and how he was an extreme perfectionist.
The relationship between the two, despite the cultural and stylistic differences, was marked by a deep respect and mutual learning, with Flamigni highlighting the importance of the technical precision he experienced with the man in charge, and how few smiles he had:
– Burgess was too serious. In 2008, when we won the world championship in Australia, they were happier at the next table, where [Casey] Stoner had won the race, than we were.
Today, Matteo Flamigni continues to apply the lessons learned alongside Jeremy Burgess, perpetuating the work ethic and quest for perfection that define the legacy of this iconic Australian mechanic.