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Thanks for that call.

16/11/2013

41 Comments

 
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The message below started as a tweet but as I was sitting at the bar the evening we all found out Jeremy Burgess, crew chief for Valentino Rossi and my boss, would be doing his last race I just started typing more on my phone (turns out JB and the boys were at the bar across the road). It's now become the first thing I've put on this blog.




Bike racing is a sport where you are never sure what will happen next, on the track or in the garage. There is no script, nothing's definite. The only certainty is it's real, as real as life can be. The highs are so high that you can never get enough. The lows make your gut wrench and you struggle to breath. But all of that is what makes your hair stand on end. Real life can also cheat you, scare you and disappoint you.

In this sport everybody does whatever they can to scramble to the top of the pile. Whatever it takes. JB knows that better than anyone I know. I have worked beside him for my whole 21 years in road racing. He has had more highs than any person in this game. He has taught me everything I know about racing and a million other things - he has probably forgotten more than I will ever know.

He will leave this sport with the most GP wins of any mechanic in history, and with his head held high.

Racing has many benefits but it also has many costs you cannot escape. One is the cost to your family. Now JB will be able to stop paying that price and his girls, wife, dog and his garage will all be happy to see him.

Most people in this paddock don't really know him that well.

I know him, and if you knew him you too would be sad to see him move on but you would be happy you knew him, had met him, or even been yelled at by him.

Many people in this paddock don't know why they do certain procedures or how things became the way they are. They might say "oh well that's how we have always done it!" but they don't realize that that's how JB wanted it done and his riders and team were winning so everyone started to take notice of what he was saying and then implement it.

When I started everyone came to work at all sorts of times and warmed the bikes up any old time it seemed. Jb always wanted us at the track two hours before practice to warm the bikes up just incase there was a problem. He said in the worst case we still had time to change an engine before first practice. ( it happened only a few times but it happened! ) Now pretty much every MotoGP team warms their bikes up in a 15min window from 8am. 

I guess its up to us, the people that knew him well, to pass on the paddock history to the new guys in the same way JB told us story after story about Isle of Man TTs, Suzuki UK, Freddie, Kevin, MR, John Brown, Barry, Wayne, Frank Spencer, Mick Smith, Eddie, George, filthy Phil from Louisville, Daytona, Muma's Bar, the log cabin, paddock lock downs, brown paper bags full of money, girls, motorhomes...the list is so long you need to have spent 15hrs a day with him for over 20 years just to hear 'em all.

I know I will share many more beers with him telling stories. It just won't be every day now.

I also know he will be having a beer on most race days watching us carry on trying to make the Rider go around in circles faster than the other riders. He may even cheer us on. That will make a change to the all the times he yelled at us to do something better, faster or smarter!

I had a message to call a guy 22 years ago. I said "who is it?", my boss at the time said, "Dunno! He said his name was Jerry Burgess".


Thanks mate for everything, but mostly thanks for that call. AB





41 Comments
Colin
16/11/2013 01:09:34 am

Really enjoyed reading this, thanks for sharing it!

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DirkRacing link
16/11/2013 01:12:14 am

Great read. Really like the last part of the third paragraph: "he has probably forgotten more than I will ever know.".

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Trina
16/11/2013 01:16:01 am

Have been waiting a checking the web site since the news broke. I knew that you would share with us, your fans and JB's fans.
Thanks for sharing

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George Foster
16/11/2013 01:16:50 am

Well put Alex. Been a keen fan for over twenty years. Loved his work, gave such joy!

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Clare Taylor
16/11/2013 01:19:04 am

Lovely words thanks for sharing this, will share with my brother in Brazil who has many fond memories of Jerry and you, nickname him Ronnie. Send JB our best wishes

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Mark Eustace
16/11/2013 01:28:43 am

I have watched Jeremy and the rest of you guy's from a far and i have had nothing but admiration for how you all went about your job , the results speak for themselves and the ethics you all engaged in have set a standard in the paddock which has become the bench mark for every paddock team .
Only could a man like JB have brought all that together and remained consistent for so long .
I have long thought that the crash of VR that broke his leg could the one that took the magic away and to see how JB had long since supported "The Rider" through the bad patches was a testament to who JB is , you take the highs , you cop the low's .
Not wanting to put down how this has ended is difficult and still political for AB who is still employed , but i think it is fair to say that JB deserved so much more than how this was handled and in time I'm sure others will look back and regret what they have done .
Yes racing is a cruel game and i agree with Alex in that JB can hold his head high .
Well done JB , you are a inspiration .

And Alex , i sincerely hope you continue the legacy of JB in the same role .

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Well said! Shame it ended forJB as it did,would have been better on his terms, feels like he was harshly treated at the end!
16/11/2013 01:30:45 am

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Janis ellison
16/11/2013 01:30:53 am

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Yokom46
16/11/2013 01:41:30 am

Touching, Ax.
Thank you for sharing.

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Sarah Cookson link
16/11/2013 01:45:00 am

Alex Briggs, you made me cry. How very poignant. Thanks for your story. All the best to JB.

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Great read Alex, would be great for jb to take someone under his wing and nurture him, imparting all his skill and knowledge to further enhance his legacy off making winners and doing it with a dignity and class of the man he is, will be strange for you
16/11/2013 01:54:37 am

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MarkCK link
16/11/2013 02:19:33 am

Thanks Alex for answering a bunch of questions I have been wanting to ask since I heard the news.

Enjoy the summer and please wish JB good luck with whatever he decides to do next.

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WillBergin46
16/11/2013 03:03:13 am

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Paul Sutton
16/11/2013 03:48:02 am

I agree a touching read, JB's presence in the paddock will be sorely missed. A familiar face hugely respected and dry wit on grid interviews always raised a smile from me as do your 'in car convo,s' Alex and Friday photo competition. Thanks for sharing this Alex it is humbling and hey I don't even know you but it's nice to read about people who have there feet on the ground with love and respect for other people nowadays! Cheers.

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Dave link
16/11/2013 04:45:07 am

Great words about a great and legendary man.
Most people get in to racing as they want to be (my era) Rossi, Joey, Foggy, Sheene or some other hailed racer. I got in to it as I wanted to be like JB. My Dad had raced and then become a mechanic and I wanted to do the same.
Up to know I've worked hard to get myself where I am. I'm so priviledge to work with the top riders and teams that I do but I still want to be like JB and I'm very aware that I never will be. He is, like so many racers are.......an alien. Something not achievable by ordinary men. A legend.

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Huge thank for you #JB... not enough words to represent my deeply sad , hopepully in future you will getting healthy, happines and all the best thing in 'ur life. For Alex, great blog !!
16/11/2013 06:31:05 am

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well said AB, sad to c him go, trend setter,
16/11/2013 09:23:34 am

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Dave James link
16/11/2013 10:01:53 am

Thanks for the history lesson Alex. We only experience a little part of whet he has done. The paddock will miss him, but I hope he is happy in retirement.

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Lou
16/11/2013 12:22:27 pm

Well said, Axle.

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Chris Simmonds
16/11/2013 01:06:30 pm

Behind every Great man is a Great Woman, behind every Great racer is a Great mechanic.

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K61K (Craig)
16/11/2013 03:41:50 pm

Wow, stirring and powerful words Briggsy. Thanks for sharing what are obviously some emotional times.
The end of everything signals the start of something new, lets hope that the experiences of that past go on to make someone elses future in the the same way.

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matt caruso
16/11/2013 05:26:32 pm

Good read! That why I love this sport!

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Kathrin
16/11/2013 06:06:38 pm

Thank you Alex. Must be really hard for you. I am still kind a mad at the rider for the way it was done. But he will still be the one i want to win. I thin, even with JB not visible in paddock, he will always come to my mind when i watch the races and see your box.

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Ed Nicoll
16/11/2013 07:27:40 pm

Because of the way it happened it feels like we are mourning the loss of JB in the paddock. I’d like to think that if JBs departure hadn’t been leaked to the Italian press things would have been dealt with a lot differently and that we would have been celebrating JBs “retiral”.

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ori rotem
16/11/2013 07:40:32 pm

Great stuff Alex I hope you will share some more stories with us.

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Jaynie
16/11/2013 09:36:25 pm

That was lovely to read but made me cry!!!! Thank you for giving us a little more insight into the man. He will be missed.

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Dave Lippett
17/11/2013 12:20:31 am

Thank you Alex. Fine words about a fine bloke....
Irreplaceable!
Wishing him all the best in whatever he does..

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Craig
17/11/2013 12:26:11 am

Not really much you can say its leaves a sour taste, For me the Rossi years mean VR JB AB yes there more to a team but that's me, sorry to see the team broke thanks for the blog look forward to the next

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Mike C
17/11/2013 06:38:39 am

JB was the rock that got the VR talent so quickly to the top of Motogp - he would have been there anyway but the first two or three years were great and JB was the calming influence in those crazy days. But when we always saw the VR cheer squad in the pit box giving their tuppence worth, you knew, sooner or later he might also become the scapegoat for a fading star. I think the move to Ducati was the killer - did they really ever let JB have a true say?? or was its his job to just wave the magic wand over the "pudding" and fix the mess. JB put a lot aside to stay through the dark years when his wife was unwell. VRs posturing at the press conference was not a nice personal reward at all. Like one of our other motor racing stars - he had loyalty and true grit - well done mate.

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Wonderfull piece, the guy will be missed. Guess w ewait for his book now.
17/11/2013 11:33:32 am

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Grazie Alex, ciao Fede
17/11/2013 11:36:36 am

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Desmofan
17/11/2013 07:06:40 pm

Really nice insight Alex, I understand Vale's thinking - but not his method, time will tell if this was a good call, and whatever the outcome, you can't deny JB has earned a rest, so all the best to him, and I really hope you do put together a book someday, you write from the heart, lovin Wrench Racer and will follow the blog with interest, take care :)

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John
18/11/2013 05:38:03 pm

Like most of us what little I know about JB is from what I've read or seen about him with regard to Motorcycle racing, always a very gentle spoken man and someone for whom I have great respect. Hopefully his skill and knowledge will not be totally lost to the sport.

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Max Watson
19/11/2013 12:48:46 am

For me JB's sanguine comments, mastery of mechanical/rider engineering, and professional but cheeky attitude sums up all that is attractive and inspiring about this sport. When is the biography out...can't wait.....

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David Molyneux
19/11/2013 05:44:57 pm

Great story Alex, real shame that JB will no longer be in moto GP, Thanks for sharing.

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Lisa Lewis link
21/11/2013 01:38:05 am

Thanks for the chance to read your thoughts, you give a thoughtful and touching account of your time working with Jerry Burgess and his influence, your words are a credit to you.

Hope the future is bright for you both, and good luck with the 'Mo!

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Daisy bank hall link
28/11/2013 09:24:57 am

Thanks for demography the time to address that, I begin it actual educational. If you get a adventitious you should appointment my website as well.

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Juergen
16/12/2013 09:22:09 pm

Thank you Alex. Thanks for the words of appreciation for Jerry. I know the HRC team since 1994 Hockenheim. An exciting time. I will miss Jerry in the paddock. Tell him many greetings. Juergen (Aschaffenburg, Germany)

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15/5/2014 12:17:12 am

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21/5/2014 01:03:17 pm

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sean
1/9/2015 03:47:25 am

the JB thing was the first time i have ever questioned my loyalty to vale , after years of support i found myself in a very sad place. not so much of what happened but how it happened.i felt some one vale had trusted had let out of the bag a very private issue , and JB seemed to get the harsh end of that betrayal. some thing that should have been dealt with much more dignity, and privacy . But this is why i never buy a newspaper, cant stand journalist. but i must say reading this made me feel better about it,it was such a heart felt piece of writing , that brought a lump to my throat. i once got to meet JB at donington and have a lovely photo of the two of us which hangs with pride in my helmet cabinet , am lucky to have meet the great man if only for a Moment .thanks alex for the insight

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