Specifically, the seven-time MotoGP champion was 8th and 15th on his first two days of running with Ducati at Valencia last week. But Burgess blames this on the need to adjust to the new machine, as well as on Rossi’s shoulder injury.
"Everything was new for Valentino as it was for myself and my team. We've all found ourselves in contact with a bike very different from the Japanese ones, and therefore with a different work method,” Burgess was quoted as saying by Motosprint via autosport.com
"The Ducati reacts differently, so this is a time to be handled with calmness by us too, just to understand things,” the chief engineer continued, "After years of Japanese bikes, and seven seasons at Yamaha, for Valentino to get on the Ducati was a sort of culture shock. This bike is a lot more physical, the way to make it turn with the required precision is certainly the thing we must focus on at the moment."
"No one has focused on one aspect: his shoulder," added Burgess. "Valentino has held on in order to finish the season, and two extra days have put strain on his already suffering shoulder. On the second day Valentino could barely do three or four laps in a row, and without ever pushing. This has influenced his test."
Rossi has sustained a shoulder surgery since the testing sessions at Valencia, with the rider now traveling a rehabilitation period which will likely have him ready for the Sepang test in February 2011.
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